Scottish Fire & Rescue Service: Equality and Diversity

About Us

Equality and Diversity

We build equality into everything that we do.

Whether it is in our employment practices, in the services we provide or in the values we work to, our commitment to equality and diversity is an important part of our working culture.

We believe that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect and consideration and that all of our employees have a role to play in delivering this important agenda.

Providing services that meet the differing needs of the diverse communities we serve is at the core of our day-to-day business. Whether it is in the delivery of frontline emergency response or in the provision of our safety education programmes, we tailor our approach to meet the requirements of our customers.

If you want to find out what community engagement activities are taking place in your area please contact your local fire station.

This website has been designed with accessibility in mind, to find out how to tailor it to your needs, view our Web Accessibility.

Meeting the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty

We strive to be the best we can be at everything we do and our ambition is to be a world class public service. In relation to equality and diversity we want to exceed the minimum legal requirements placed on public bodies and employers and be recognised as champions of equality. The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 sets out for public bodies:

A duty to impact assess and review policies and practices.

Our policies and practices are developed with the needs of people in mind and this is one way we ensure that we mainstream equality. To achieve this we use the equality and human rights impact assessment process.

A duty to publish a Mainstreaming Report

The Mainstreaming and Equality Outcomes Report 2021-2023 is available to download.

Previous reports:

A duty to identify and publish Equality Outcomes for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Included within our Mainstreaming and Equality Outcomes Report 2021 are our renewed Equality Outcomes. Based around our Strategic Plan and built on what communities and stakeholders told us should be our priorities, the Equality Outcomes set out an ambitious programme for service delivery, employment practice, working with partners and support for Scotland’s youth.

Each Equality Outcome is relevant to all the protected characteristics identified by the Equality Act 2010. Equality Outcome 6 specifically identifies the characteristic of age and applying the principles of intersectionality across characteristics we envisage a broader range of characteristics being supported by this Equality Outcome.

Our Equality Outcomes are aligned through our corporate reporting systems from the Strategic Plan, through the Annual Operating Plan down to Directorate level planning.

Equality Outcomes 2021

SFRS services are accessible and appropriate to the needs of Scotland’s diverse communities.

Scotland will be a safer and fairer place as a result of our collaborative work with other organisations.

SFRS is an inclusive employer with a workplace which reflects the diversity of Scottish society.

SFRS staff feel valued and have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

SFRS employees are supported on mental health and wellbeing in line with policies and initiatives.

SFRS will support Scotland’s young people reach their full potential.

Our duty to publish an Equal Pay and Gender Pay Gap Report

We have published our Equal Pay and Gender Pay Gap Report for 2023. This sets out details of our approach to ensuring pay equality, and the current gender pay gap between men and women. It also includes an occupational segregation profile of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, which identifies the percentages of men and women working in particular sections and levels of our Service. The report also explains the actions that SFRS are taking to ensure our workforce profile matches that of the communities we serve.

The previous Equal Pay Statement and Gender Pay Gap Reports are also available:

Consider the use of equality criteria in the public procurement process

It is important to us that the goods and services we purchase are suitable for their intended use. It is equally important to us that the suppliers of those goods and services meet our high standards on equality. Our Procurement Team can provide assistance to those wishing to do business with us.