22724 - Future Prison Leaders Programme - External

Future Prison Leaders Programme

You could build an ordinary career. Or you could build an extraordinary one as a prison leader .

If you have an ambition to lead where it matters and youre looking for a new challenge in an environment like no other, the Future Prison Leaders Programme is for you.

With a dedicated 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 youll need to be a future prison leader.

A leadership programme like no other

Being a prison leader is an extraordinary job, and it could 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 is a leadership programme like no other. It will see you fast-track your way from prison officer to a senior leader running your own prison department in just 3 years.

Your first year will see you working on the frontline as a prison officer. This is where you will learn the realities of working on the ground and building positive and meaningful interactions with prisoners. With thorough training and development, and subject to passing a number of assessments, you will progress into leadership roles. In your second year, you will work as a custodial manager, leading a team of prison officers, and then move into a head of function management role in year three, taking responsibility across a whole prison in areas such as security, operations, drug strategy, residency and staffing.

Eligibility to apply

To apply you need to:

• have people management experience or hold a degree/level 6 qualification or higher qualification

• If you hold qualifications gained overseas, you must provide an official English translation of the qualification by 18th December 2026. Please note that if the required translation qualifications documentation is not received by 18th December 2026, we will be unable to progress your application further. Any costs incurred in obtaining the required translation must be met by the applicant.

• be coming to the end of a degree/level 6 equivalent qualification when applying and be able to evidence that you have a degree before your contract of employment is issued (by August 2027)
• be at least 18 years old when you start your new role
• have the right to work in the UK and Civil Service (GOV.UK, opens in a new tab)
• have resided in the UK for at least 3 years immediately before you submit your application. This is because you will work in a variety of prisons which require additional vetting.

Skilled Worker visa changes from 4 April 2024

From 4 April 2024, the Government increased the salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas. The change means that HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) cannot guarantee sponsorship for people seeking sponsorship via the Skilled Worker visa route.

If you do not meet the new eligibility criteria for sponsorship, you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK.

HMPPS will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service.

You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria at Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK.

Skills & Qualifications Required

Being a prison leader isnt a job that can be done by everyone. We want people who dont shy away from the realities of prison life but embrace them. We want people who are passionate about making a real difference in the lives of prisoners and the public. The ones who want to lead where it matters the most.

To apply for the Future Prison Leaders Programme, you need people management experience or a degree/level 6 qualification or higher.

Read about the skills you need to be a prison officer - essential for your first year on the programme and beyond.

You will also need the following skills to be a future prison leader:

• to lead with integrity, be able to motivate staff and build diverse teams that work collaboratively
• to provide constructive feedback to teams, and focus on learning and development to drive continuous improvements
• great analytical, strong verbal and numerical skills
• to be able to think and plan strategically
• an ability to think on your feet, with sound judgement to consider risks and make evidence-based decisions.

Pay and benefits

As a future prison leader, you will gain first-hand experience of the workings of a prison and gain the skills and experience you need to work with prisoners.

Your pay will rise to at least 62,779 by your third year (subject to performance). All figures below are correct as at 1 April 2026, and are subject to an annual pay review (with changes being effective from 1 April):

*Year 1 - Figures include 20% unsocial hours allowance. You will be contracted to 37 hours and are able to opt to work 39 or 41 hours in year 1 after completing the prison officer foundation training.

In year 1, a market supplement of 2,000 or 3,500 also applies to some prisons (not included in the figures above). Take a look at the full prison officer starting salary information for HMPPS prisons across England and Wales.

**Year 2 - Figures based on working 37 hours and inclusive of a 20% unsocial hours allowance.

***Year 3 - Figures based on working 37 hours and inclusive of a required hours allowance.

Increases for 2027/28 (effective from 1 April 2027) will be published around June 2027.

Life on the programme

The Future Prison Leaders ...