HM Prison & Probation Service |

Future Prison Leaders Programme

If you have an ambition to lead where it matters, we’re looking for future leaders to join our three-year Future Prison Leaders Programme.

A leadership programme like no other

Being a prison leader is an extraordinary job, and it can be done by someone like you. If the idea of leading teams through challenging situations while focusing on rehabilitation, protecting lives and maintaining security makes you tick, the Future Prison Leaders Programme is for you.  

This leadership programme like no other will see you fast-track your way from prison officer to a senior leader running your own prison department in just 3 years. With a comprehensive training programme and clear progression path, you will gain first-hand experience of working in a variety of roles and prisons to give you the skills and knowledge you’ll need to be a future prison leader. 

There will be places for up to 35 talented future leaders on this exclusive programme. So, if you’re ready to take the first step towards an extraordinary career, read on to find out more.

Life as a prison leader:

Build an extraordinary leadership career with real purpose and make an impact

The Future Prison Leaders Programme comes with real variety, with no 2 days ever being the same. The satisfaction you’ll feel from the positive impact you are making on lives inside and outside the prison will be unmatched. 

The opportunity to train and progress will be around every corner:

• You’ll spend your first year on the frontline as a prison officer.  
• In your second year, you’ll progress to working as a custodial manager, a senior uniformed officer managing a team of prison officers.
• You will transition to heading up your own department in your third year. 

During your time on the leadership programme, you will work in different types of prison. This will give you first-hand experience of what it’s like working in different prisons such as training or local prisons, high security prisons, women’s prisons and young offender institutions. Essential experience for a future prison leader!