Armed forces and emergency services : Typical employers

Big players

There are three armed forces employers - the Army, the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy, which includes the Royal Marines. Officers might also work at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) or they could be deployed on United Nations (UN) operations or as part of a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) force.

The armed forces currently need about 20,000 new recruits every year, including graduate officers.

Most ambulance staff work for the NHS. Other employers include the armed forces, overseas health departments and oil and gas exploration companies. There is also the option of working for private ambulance agencies for occasions such as sporting fixtures, major events or on film and TV sets.

Fire service recruitment is undertaken by individual fire and rescue services. Opportunities also exist with a small number of other employers, such as the British Airports Authority (BAA), which maintains fire brigades at seven major airports, the Royal Air Force (RAF) and, less commonly, large industrial companies.

Some fire brigades, such as the London Fire Brigade, have carried out graduate recruitment schemes in the past and may do so again in the future.

Police force recruitment information may be found through the Police Recruitment  site as well as individual police force sites. Other police employers include the British Transport Police, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP).

Coastguards are employed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and are based within Marine Offices or Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres around the UK’s coastline.

Opportunities for emergency planning officers exist in a range of organisations, including local authorities, fire and rescue services, British Red Cross, police forces, the NHS and government bodies such as the Environment Agency (EA).

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

SMEs are organisations with less than 250 employees and an annual turnover of no more than £26million. Working for a smaller company can be rewarding because you are more likely to forge a path for yourself within the company, although opportunities to try other departments may be limited.

SMEs are unlikely to use the testing and assessment techniques of larger companies, or follow lengthy recruitment procedures. SMEs are more likely to advertise their vacancies through the local press, university careers service bulletins, local graduate vacancy listings, jobcentres, and word of mouth, rather than rely on their reputation and a presence at graduate recruitment fairs.

Careers services should have listings of jobs with small firms; see also the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

The majority of opportunities within the armed forces and emergency services sector are with large employers. Opportunities with SMEs in this sector are mainly found within private ambulance and fire services or in consultancies as an emergency planner.

Self-employment

Self-employment is becoming an increasingly popular option, particularly for ambulance and fire service staff, although this is still largely part time. Examples include working on a freelance basis for a private ambulance agency or fire service or setting up a private training company or consultancy.

Find out more about self-employment.