Ewan Mackenzie

Employer: HM Prison Service, Brixton
University: BA politics, University of Sussex

I have always had an interest in this area and wrote my dissertation at university on juvenile crime. I also completed an internship with the social exclusion unit at the Cabinet Office, working on a project to reduce the level of re-offending in ex-prisoners. I thought long and hard about joining the prison service but the applications process convinced me it was the right thing to do and I have never regretted my decision.

My job

We supply the prisoners with their basic needs, look after their welfare and deal with personal issues such as a wife’s miscarriage or drug-related issues, which we run courses to address. It can be very rewarding. I’m based on the wing and work in a high-pressure environment. You don’t really realise it but your adrenaline level is quite high – you need to be ready for the unexpected. Career progression can be quite fast and you are given a lot of responsibility early on. You can reach deputy governor level in three to four years.

The public sector is the only place I can imagine myself working as it suits my personality. I like the job satisfaction that comes with working in a challenging environment and I have never completely understood what motivates people to work for large bluechip companies. It is the thanks I get that makes my job so worthwhile. I am paid well, enjoy the job I’m doing and have the chance to make a difference to someone’s future.

Highs and lows

I remember dealing with a sixteen-year-old boy who had a history of violence. I spent time with him and managed to get him a job cleaning the wing. He did still cause trouble but he told me that instead of fighting, as he would have done in the past, he felt that he would be letting the officers down. It was obvious he was making a real effort to change.