Public Services Level 1

As a British Army soldier you could be fighting in combat zones or providing peacekeeping and humanitarian services around the world. If you are looking for a challenging and active job, this could be ideal for you.

You will need to have self-discipline and confidence. You will also need to work as part of a team and be able to think and react quickly in changing situations.

To join the army, you must be aged between 16 and 33. You will need to meet the army’s eligibility criteria.??

Police officers work with communities and the public to maintain law and order. They investigate crime, gather evidence and bring offenders to court. They also work on initiatives to raise awareness and prevent crime from happening in the first place.

If you want a varied and challenging job and like the idea of helping to make communities safer, this could be the ideal career for you.

Police officer recruitment is handled by individual police services, and their requirements can vary. In general you will need to have lived in the UK for three years, be over 18 and pass enhanced background and security checks.

If you want to work in the local community and help to help keep law and order, this job could be perfect for you.

As a police community support officer (PCSO) you would work alongside the police, patrolling the local area, dealing with minor incidents and offences. You would provide assistance to the police and a visible presence in the area to reassure the public.

In this job you would need a calm but assertive approach, good communication skills and be able to deal with people in difficult situations. You would also need to be physically fit.

Local police services set their own entry requirements so you need to check with them for exact details. You would need the right to live and work in the UK without restrictions, and you would also need to pass background security checks. 

If you're passionate about public safety and want to help save lives, this job could be ideal for you. Firefighters protect and save people and property from fire and other dangers. They provide emergency support. They also provide education and advice on fire prevention.

You must be at least 18 years old to become a firefighter. You will need a good standard of education and a reasonable level of physical fitness.

A firefighter has the ability to react quickly and remain calm in dangerous situations.

Royal Marines are part of the Royal Navy. They take part in frontline combat, on land and at sea and are sent at short notice to deal with emergency situations like military operations or natural disasters. If you are physically fit, resourceful and have self-discipline, this job could be for you.

You’ll need to be resilient and determined and able to follow orders. Quick thinking and the ability to react quickly will help you to cope well under pressure.

To become a marine, you must be aged between 16 and 32. You will also need to meet the navy’s eligibility criteria.

Merchant navy deck officers have responsibility for navigation, communications, crew and cargo onboard their ship. They also take care of passengers, oversee ship safety and carry out watch duties.

Housing officers supervise the day-to-day maintenance and management of rented properties that belong to local authorities or housing associations.

If you are an organised person and can communicate well with a wide variety of different people, this job might suit you.

In this job you will need to be good at analysing and solving problems. You will also need to be good at negotiating and dealing with difficult situations.

There aren't any set requirements to get into this job, although a lot of people working in housing have qualifications at A level standard or higher. You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship, or by starting as a housing assistant and working your way up.

If you can create good working relationships with all kinds of different people, and have a firm but fair approach, this job might suit you.

As a prison officer, you would supervise inmates in prisons, remand centres and young offenders' institutions.

In this job you will need patience and a commitment to helping people. You will need to be able to stay calm in pressurised situations and make quick decisions. You will also need to have the ability to act with authority with prisoners who are abusive and possibly violent.

To become a prison officer, you will need to get through initial selection tests, then attend an assessment day, designed to examine your personal qualities and character.  

If you want to help solve crimes and you enjoy using your observation skills, this could be ideal for you. Scenes of crime officers (SOCOs) locate, record and recover evidence from crime scenes. They are also known as crime scene examiners and crime scene investigators (CSIs).

SOCOs work alongside uniformed and plain clothed police officers during the investigation of a crime. They may work directly for a police service or with a security services company that works with the police.

Entry requirements vary between police forces, although you're likely to need at least five GCSEs or the equivalent, preferably including English, maths and a science subject.

To do this job you will need excellent attention to detail. You’ll also need to record and report information. Sometimes you’ll need to remain calm in unpleasant and distressing situations.