County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) has been recognised among the top apprentice employers in the UK by The Sunday Times.
The fire service been named in the respected newspaper’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for 2026.
The list recognises employers' commitment to creating new apprenticeships, the diversity of their apprentices, and the number of apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeships.
CDDFRS comes in at number 78 in the prestigious national rankings, which have been compiled by High Fliers Research for The Sunday Times.
The service launched its Operational Apprenticeship Programme in 2017 and has gone on to train more than 80 new firefighters.
The latest cohort of apprentice firefighters completed their training in October 2025 and are already working on stations across the service.
CDDFRS also delivers apprenticeships for corporate staff at entry, supervisory, and middle and strategic management levels in areas including Business Analysis and Operations Management.
Cheryl Porter, Learning and Development Manager at CDDFRS, said: “We have been offering new and existing staff the opportunity to undertake apprenticeships to support their career for almost a decade.
“The recognition from The Sunday Times reflects the value we place on developing our people.
“Thank you to all our apprentices, past and present, and to all the managers that support our programmes for your hard work, dedication, and commitment.
“Your efforts make a huge difference, and we wouldn't have reached the 78th ranking without your support and contribution."
Caption: Apprentice firefighters from Cohort 8.
