Skip to Main Content

Career Sectors: Emergency and Uniformed Services

Description

The Emergency and Uniformed Services sector can offer a very rewarding career pathway. With a diverse range of roles across areas of work such as the Police, Armed Forces, Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service, the industry is made up of important jobs that help to aid and protect the general public, allowing you to make a real difference.

The Emergency and Uniformed Services sector is not just made up of active roles such as Police Officer, Soldier, or Fire Fighter. There are also roles which might appeal to people who are interested in using or developing their administrative or computing/IT related skills, and there are many other roles you may wish to explore.   

Labour Market Information

Sector Insights

With the government’s recent commitment to increasing police numbers, it’s a great time to consider entering the uniformed services as a career choice. Recruitment in this area continues to grow and provide roles that are rich with opportunities for progression.

Career paths

  • Administrative Assistant - Admin is all about making sure life is smooth in the office. It helps a business run properly.
  • Aid Worker - Aid workers help people in overseas countries affected by man-made and natural disasters like wars, outbreaks of disease and earthquakes.
  • Bodyguard - Bodyguards protect individuals or groups from the risk of violence, kidnapping and other harmful situations.
  • Border Force Officer - Border Force officers protect UK border entry points like ports and airports, by enforcing immigration and customs regulations.
  • Civil Enforcement Officer - Civil enforcement officers make sure drivers follow parking regulations on public streets and in car parks.
  • Coastguard - Coastguards help prevent the loss of life along the coast and at sea by co-ordinating and supporting search and rescue operations.
  • Cyber Security - In this role you’ll help to make sure health and care is resilient against cyber attacks.
  • Diver - Divers work underwater at sea, or in rivers, lakes, canals and reservoirs.
  • Door Supervisor - Door supervisors guard licensed premises like pubs, bars and nightclubs against damage, theft, unauthorised access or disorderly behaviour.
  • Neighbourhood warden - Neighbourhood wardens work in local communities to reduce anti-social behaviour.
  • Security Service personnel - these roles protect the UK against threats to national security.
  • Army Officer - As an Army officer you’ll command and motivate teams of soldiers in times of peace and war.
  • RAF non-commissioned aircrew - Royal Air Force (RAF) non-commissioned aircrew fly patrols over UK airspace and take part in NATO operations. 
  • RAF Officer -  As an RAF officer, you’ll lead teams of air service professionals in one of 20 specialist areas.
  • Royal Marines commando - Royal Marines commandos take part in frontline combat, and are sent at short notice to deal with emergency situations.
  • Royal Navy Officer - Royal Navy officers manage ships and submarine operations and are responsible for all personnel in their command.
  • Soldier - Soldiers take part in peacekeeping missions, supporting humanitarian efforts or fighting in combat zones around the world.
  • Firefighter - Firefighters help to protect people from fire and other dangers, and give advice on fire prevention.
  • Paramedic - Paramedics respond to emergency call-outs and give people life-saving medical help.
  • Police Officer - It’s a police officer’s job to protect the public and keep the peace. Your role in the community is to help prevent crime and uphold the law.
  • Police Community Support Officer - Police community support officers (PCSOs) work in a neighbourhood policing team to help deal with and prevent crime.
  • Dog Handler - Dog handlers work with specially trained dogs to help detect and prevent crime, find lost or missing people and protect property.
  • Youth Justice Worker - Youth justice workers, work with children and young people in custody. They support children and young people to manage their behaviour, attend education training and activities. 
  • Probation service officer - Probation service officers work with offenders to help them settle into the community and stop them reoffending, and protect the public. 
  • Prison and Probation Psychologist - Psychologists work within the prison and probation service. There aim is to understand why offenders make the choices they do and how to prevent them reoffending, to understand motivation to change. 
  • Prison Officer - Prison officers perform a variety of tasks and work with a range of people. Prison officers manage challenging behaviour, ensure the safety of prisoners and staff and enable prisoners to learn new skills.
  • Operational support Grade - Operational support grade ensure the smooth running of prisons. They complete security searches, manage deliveries, supervise visitors and monitor phone calls and CCTV.
  • Approved premises role - Approved premises workers, work within a residential premises 24hr cover to support offenders transition back into community. 
  • Coastguard - Coastguards help prevent the loss of life along the coast and at sea by co-ordinating and supporting search and rescue operations.

Lincoln College Courses

Our uniformed public services qualifications offer breadth and depth of study, providing learners with an understanding of the principles of the sector. Alongside pre-employment preparation, qualifications also offer learners the opportunity to develop the skills and qualities needed to work in a range of roles within uniformed services, such as leadership, conflict management and personal protection skills. 

The qualifications also help prepare learners for application processes and fitness requirements through classroom-taught lessons, guest speakers, and practical and physical activities.

Work Experience

  • St John Ambulance Cadets - Many Cadets join St John Ambulance to gain relevant experience before pursuing a career as a paramedic or health care professional. 
  • Police Cadets - The Volunteer Police Cadets is the nationally recognised police uniformed youth group throughout England & Wales and in Scotland known as Police Scotland Youth Volunteers.
  • Fire Cadets - Fire Cadets provides fun and challenging inclusive opportunities for young people to reach their full potential contributing to safer, stronger and healthier communities. Not every town has a Fire Cadets Unit, so contact your local fire station to ask if they have one. 
  • Army Cadets - The Army Cadet Force, generally shortened to Army Cadets, is a national youth organisation sponsored by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence and the British Army
  • Royal Air Force (RAF) Cadets - If you're a fan of aviation, action and adventure, love sports and getting to know people then Air Cadets is the place for you. 
  • Royal Navy Cadets - Sea Cadets is the UK’s largest maritime youth charity, established in 1856 and working in over 400 units with 14,000 cadets aged between 10 and 18.

Lincolnshire County Council Volunteering - Conservation projects, supporting people with disabilities, running sports activities for young people, and more.

British Red Cross - Join as an ambulance volunteer, support refugees or help in a charity shop.

Mountain Rescue - help organise events, offering your skills in PR and marketing, cooking bacon butties during a shout… even washing down team vehicles.

Voluntary Service Overseas - bringing about lasting change not by sending aid, but by working through volunteers and partners to empower communities in some of the world’s poorest regions.