Emergency Services Day

9 September 2025

Every year, Emergency Services Day celebrates the work of police, fire, ambulance, and rescue teams.

It also highlights career opportunities in the emergency services – including vital volunteer roles.

We've been training emergency workers for more than 25 years, and carry out research in areas including policing and public service.

Here, you can read more about study options at ARU and some of our latest research projects.

Training emergency workers

We're proud to train paramedics, and to work with eight police forces to educate new police officers. We also offer a range of CPD courses, covering areas such as emergency care and immediate life support.

Paramedic Science degree
Police officer training
CPD courses

Research at ARU

We established the Centre of Excellence for Equity in Uniformed Public Services (CEEUPS) in 2024.

Uniformed public services such as the military, police, fire, ambulance and prison services face increased demand, as well as pressures on public spending.

Through our research, we're supporting organisations to respond to these challenges – notably by developing resilient, healthy and professional workforce cultures.

Back view of firefighters practicing rescuing someone from a car
Research project

Exploring the departure of on-call firefighters in England

This study investigates on-call firefighters' reasons for joining and leaving the services, and their experiences of the role.

Read more about the firefighters project
Action shot of a paramedic transferring a gurney from an air ambulance to a road ambulance
Research project

Psychological safety within UK HEMS

This project explores experiences of psychological safety within UK Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) in order to inform policy, practice, and research.

Read more about the psychological safety in HEMS project
Hands of a prison officer removing handcuff from their belt, from which also hangs assorted keys
Research project

Emotional inequities

This project explores the how male and female prison officers (POs) manage their own, co-workers', and inmates' feelings, and the consequences for well-being.

Read more about the emotional inequities project

Student stories

Police Constable Degree Apprentice Danielle holding a certificate and trophy with a senior officer

From retail to the frontline: retraining as a police officer

Danielle's story
Matt Campbell

Search and rescue: supporting emergency response operations

Matt's story
Polaroid photo of guest blogger, Fatima.

Classroom to crew: studying paramedic science at ARU

Fatima's story
Discover our courses at an Open Day