A report has revealed that Avon Fire & Rescue Service has reduced its gender pay gap from 4.48% in 2020 to 0.07% in 2021.
CFO Mick Crennell | Photo courtesy of Avon Fire & Rescue Service
The report, which was submitted to the Avon Fire Authority in August 2021, highlights that women working for the fire service now earn an average of 1p more per hour than their male colleagues.
Female employees receive £15.66 per hour on average compared with £15.65 by their male counterparts, which works out as a 0.07 per cent difference.
As of 31st March, Avon Fire & Rescue had 901 employees, of which 744 were men and 157 women.
Chair of the Avon Fire Authority Brenda Massey and Chief Fire Officer Mick Crennell have recognised the importance of the change, saying: “We are encouraged to see that AF&RS has a gender pay gap which has reduced from last year and remains lower than the current national average of 7.4%.
“We do however recognise that we have much more to do in order to ensure our organisation is truly inclusive for women.
“The Service’s ongoing efforts to improve internal culture and equal opportunities are key in progressing towards full gender pay parity.”
In May 2021, Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) ran its second Culture Survey, which provides a snapshot of the evolving and improving internal culture over the past two years.
The surveys form part of AF&RS’s commitment to its Diversity, Inclusion, Cohesion and Equality (DICE) strategy, which is under review and will be published in 2022.
Chair of the Avon Fire Authority Brenda Massey added: “Avon Fire Authority is committed to developing a culture which puts diversity, inclusion, cohesion and equality at the heart of all our work.
“Gender equality and ensuring people are paid fairly for the work they do is a key aspect of this.”
