Assumptions and pay data
- Grey Book (7th edition, 2025), Section 3 Part C para 2, area managers: 35 days Scale A plus 2 days Scale B, and 3 long-service days. Part-time employees get these pro-rata.
- Long-service leave applies if you have 5 years' continuous service at the start of the leave year, which runs from 1/1 to 31/12. In the year you reach 5 years, you get a proportionate share (para 9).
- Full time is 42 hours a week here, so a leave day is 8.4 hours. Shift rotas often convert leave into shifts, so your service may show it differently.
- Public holidays: 8 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (para 12). On shifts, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day count on the day they fall (para 13).
Annual Leave Calculator
EnglandFire and rescue authorityFramework from 1/7/2026
Loading calculator…
Guide for Area Manager
This guide summarises contractual annual leave for Area Manager under Fire and Rescue pay (NJC) at Fire & Rescue. Part-time staff receive a pro-rata share based on contracted hours.
Annual leave for Area Manager
As Area Manager at Fire & Rescue, annual leave usually follows Fire and Rescue (NJC): area managers. A full-time employee with around three years' service might receive about 37 days (311 hours at typical full-time hours) per year, before pro-rating for part-time hours. Bank holiday treatment varies; check whether they are included in the stated total. Part-time staff receive a pro-rata share based on contracted weekly hours.
Example scenario
Example at 2 years' service and 42 hours a week: 37 days plus 8 public holidays, the Grey Book scale for area managers
| Sector terms (example) | Fire and Rescue (NJC): area managers |
|---|---|
| Years of service (example) | 2 |
| Annual leave days (example) | 37 |
| Hours (full-time example) | 311 |
Frequently asked questions
How much annual leave do area managers get?
35 days of Scale A and 2 days of Scale B leave, so 37 days, plus 8 public holidays. After 5 years' continuous service you get 3 long-service days on top, making 40.
What is the difference between Scale A and Scale B leave?
Scale B and long-service days can be taken on any duty day, including several in a row, when the service can spare you. Off-duty days that fall within a period of annual leave count as Scale A leave.
How is part-time leave worked out?
In proportion to your hours. At 21 hours a week (half of 42), 37 days becomes 18.5 days, or 155.4 hours: 37 days at your own day length of 4.2 hours. Public holidays work the same way: 4 days, or 33.6 hours.
Can I carry leave over?
Leave not taken by the end of the leave year (31/12) is lost, unless your service lets you take it by 31/3 of the next year (para 7).
Do you store my information?
Your calculator inputs and results stay in your browser and are not stored. We only collect your name and email if you choose to give them, for example to download your results or sign up for email updates. We store them with MailerLite, our email provider, along with the page you were on. See our privacy policy.
About this role
What is an Area Manager?
An Area Manager is a senior Fire & Rescue Service operational/managerial grade above Group Manager, often leading a geographic area or major function.
Typical demands, progression and balance
Area Manager roles combine strategic leadership with operational assurance.
What is my annual leave entitlement?
Use the figures on this page for your sector’s leave rules, including pro-rata for part-time where that applies. Teachers under STPCD use directed time and school holidays instead of a separate leave pot. Always check your contract or school calendar for exact dates.
Disclaimer
Illustrative estimates, not legal or HR advice. Your contract and your employer's policy decide your actual entitlement.