CGC Oakgrove Ebook 3.0

Uniform Services

Sector Outlook The uniformed services sector is often dependent on government funding and is currently facing budget cuts. As a result job oppor tunities are regrettably few and far between. The Army employs more than 100,000 people but there are plans to reduce personnel numbers to 82,000 by 2020. The cuts are likely to see the end of several infantry battalions. Similarly, the 2010 defence review requires the Royal Navy to reduce its force from 36,000 to 31,000. RAF bases are also facing closure and there is strong completion within some branches of the service. To find out about the different roles within each service, log on to the appropriate website, but then visit the armed forces careers office for detailed information about possible vacancies. On a more positive note, the government has expressed an interest in increasing the number of fully trained reservists across all three of the armed forces. Within the Emergency Services, government cuts have severely affected police recruitment trends. Around 137,000 police officers are employed throughout England and Wales, not including the British Transport Police, but there is shortfall of young officers with no plans to address the deficit. You can find further information about police recruitment trends in the Police Service sector chart. The Fire and Rescue Service is similarly affected with the majority of the forty-five fire and rescue authourities in the UK struggling with budget cuts and organisational change. Competition for vacancies is intense, although casting your net further afield to include the British Airport Authourities, the Defence and Rescue Service and the RAF may help you find the opportunity you want. Vacancies within the Ambulance Service remain competitive with most personnel being employed by the National Health Service (NHS). Ambulance jobs are advertised on the NHS vacancy website, on ambulance trusts’ websites and in local newspapers. As with the Fire and Rescue Service it can be worthwhile considering employment opportunities with private companies or the armed forces. The prison service has not been exempt from government cuts and an increasing number of prisons are being subject to privatisation. The majority are run by Her Majesty’s Prison Service (HMPS) but eleven others are contracted to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and operated by private concerns. To increase your chances of finding work, consider applying to young offender’s institutions as well as adult prisons. Alternatively, you could find employment working for one of the 2,500 security firms operating in the UK. Around 500,00 people are employed by the industry and you could find yourself providing a security service in a variety of settings including shopping centres, airports, building sites or even concert venues.