Join our Fire Service Best Practice Assessment Forum

Fire Service Best Practice Sharing Events

Free, bite-sized peer learning for FRS assessment and development professionals

Join a UK-wide forum that keeps you informed, connected, and learning, through regular updates and optional best-practice sharing sessions.

Already a Forum Member?

What is the Best Practice Assessment Forum?

The Best Practice Assessment Forum is a free, informal network for FRS assessment and development professionals across the UK. It provides an easy way to stay connected with colleagues working in similar roles and facing similar challenges.

By joining the Forum, you’ll receive one or two emails a month with:

Relevant news and updates
Topics linked to your role and organisation
Information about upcoming events and opportunities

Forum membership keeps you informed, and members can choose whether to attend events.

Pre-Assessment Support a man doing an online course lookinmg at books

Why join?

Free to join

forum membership and events

Stay informed

through regular, relevant email updates

Optional events

attend when topics are useful to you

Peer-led learning

in small, collaborative groups

Practical ideas

and resources you can use straight away

Working in Partnership

Forum members can also choose to contribute to and influence the development of FRS-specific tools and exercises for use in selection and promotion.

Best Practice Sharing Events

As part of the Forum, members are invited to take part in free Best Practice Sharing Events. These are informal, online sessions where FRS colleagues come together to share what’s working well, explore challenges, and exchange ideas and resources.

Topics include learning and development, assessment and promotion, firefighter recruitment and selection, leadership, organisational culture, coaching, and culture change.

Led by Chartered Psychologist Hannah Vallance, the sessions are designed to be accessible and easy to attend. They are kept intentionally small (around 10 delegates, with occasional NFCC involvement) to support open discussion, practical learning, and meaningful collaboration.

How the Sessions Work

Once you have signed up for the forum, you will receive a notification email with full details of our upcoming Best Practice Sharing Events. These sessions follow the format outlined above and are designed to be practical, interactive, and easy to join, giving you the opportunity to connect with colleagues, share experiences, and explore new ideas.

Approximately 40 minutes

One guest speaker shares a success story (15–20 mins)

Discussion and Q&A in small groups of 8–10 (20 mins)

Held every other month

Session notes shared with all attendees

For more information on our next event, click here

Previous Meetings

Online Bite-Size
2024

Cambridgshire FRS
2023

Shropshire FRS
2023

Shropshire FRS
2022

West Midlands
2020

Across the sector, there is already excellent work underway. These events provide the opportunity to learn from colleagues who are a few steps ahead, hear about real successes and breakthroughs, and share approaches that save time and amplify good practice.