The sale of the government-owned UK Fire Service College, in Gloucestershire, has formally begun, following the announcement that the Government intend to dispose of the college as a going concern.
As one of the world’s largest operational fire and rescue training centres, with a global reputation for excellence it is hoped that the sale will generate significant interest from the private sector as well as securing the long-term future of the college for staff and the country.
Minister for fire and rescue, Bob Neill, MP, described the Fire Service College as “an asset of national importance, with a world-class reputation.”
The future of the college has been under review since April 2011 with four options on the table: continuing to run the college as a trading fund under government ownership; a government-owned contractor-operated model; closure; or disposal as a going concern.
Neill announced his decision to sell the college at the local government association annual fire exhibition and conference in March.
He said, "My decision means that the private sector will be able to bring innovation and investment to the College, benefiting taxpayers, local residents, the Fire and Rescue Service and, ultimately, strengthening national resilience.
"I know there is real excitement about this opportunity out there in the market and I look forward to seeing some strong bids when the process opens."
However, professionals union Prospect have raised concerns over the sale. They say that the college’s world-class facilities are “falling to bits” under government spending constraints and that staff have faced a pay freeze.
They also assert that the college has struggled to compete with private colleges since the localism buill came into force, giving fire services the choice to use other training facilities.
Prospect negotiator Phillippa Childs said, "Many current problems stem from the fact that the college has had to operate as a commercial venture within the constraints of government ownership.
"However, our members are worried about being transferred out of the public sector, not least because of the potential impact on their pay, pensions and other terms and conditions.
"It is also outrageous that a national resource such as this, which provides vital training to a key emergency service, should be privatised and thus subject to market forces which rely on making a profit in order to function."
A condition of sale of the college is that it will be preserved as a national training college for the Fire and Rescue Service and that it will continue to offer wider national emergency services training exercises.
