About the programme (Back to top)
The HMPPS Future Prison Leaders Programme is a selective 3-year pathway into senior operational leadership in one of the country’s most important institutions.
If selected, you’ll join a cohort of up to 35 people in September 2027 on a structured programme combining operational experience, mentoring from senior leaders and focused development.
The programme is designed to prepare participants for progression from prison officer into increasingly senior leadership roles, with the potential to reach head of function level within 3 years.
Find out more about the programme at our webinar on Tuesday 13 October 2026 at 6pm
What it’s like on the programme (Back to top)
Hear from our current cohort about their experience so far. This includes:
- what the programme and prison environment is like
- who might consider applying
- what they have gained from the programme
About HMPPS (Back to top)
Find out more about HMPPS and the importance of working in prisons from James McEwen, our Chief Executive Officer.
Salary and benefits (Back to top)
Your pay will depend on where you work. In your first year, it will also depend on how many hours you’re contracted to work.
Salaries are reviewed yearly and may change.
Year 1 salary
At the start of the programme, you’ll work 37 hours a week. Once you’ve completed your prison officer foundation training, you can choose to increase this to 39 or 41 hours a week. Most prison officers choose to work 39 hours.
The salary is based on pay rates from 1 April 2026. It includes a 20% unsocial hours allowance.
| 37 hours | 39 hours | 41 hours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inner London prisons | £40,876 | £43,453 | £46,031 |
| Outer London prisons (may include a market supplement) | £38,840 to £40,840 | £41,290 to £43,290 | £43,739 to £45,379 |
| South and South East prisons (may include a market supplement) | £36,428 to £38,428 | £38,631 to £40,631 | £40,834 to £42,834 |
| All other prisons | £34,928 | £37,131 | £39,334 |
Read more about the year 1 salary, including market supplements.
Years 2 and 3 salaries
If you pass the assessments in year 1, you’ll progress to leadership roles in years 2 and 3 where you’ll work 37 hours. There’s no option to increase your hours.
These salaries are estimates based on pay rates from 1 April 2026.
| Year 2 (includes a 20% unsocial hours allowance) | Year 3 (includes a required hours allowance) | |
|---|---|---|
| Inner London prisons | £50,876 | £71,239 |
| Outer London prisons | £48,832 | £69,096 |
| All other prisons | £44,900 | £64,978 |
Benefits
As well as a generous annual leave allowance and one of the best pension schemes in the UK, you’ll enjoy a great range of benefits.
What the programme involves (Back to top)
The Future Prison Leaders Programme gives you the chance to build an extraordinary leadership career with real purpose and make an impact.
The programme will be fast-paced and challenging. No 2 days will ever be the same and you’ll get first-hand experience of working in different types of prisons.
You’ll gain the skills and knowledge required by senior prison leaders. And the satisfaction you’ll feel from the positive impact you’re making on lives inside and outside the prison will be unmatched.
- You’ll spend your first year on the frontline as a prison officer.
- If you successfully pass your first year assessments, you’ll progress to working as a custodial manager in your second year.
- In your third year, you’ll transition to heading up your own department.
Year 1: prison officer
Foundation training
After a 2-week induction, you’ll begin the 8-week residential prison officer foundation training programme at our learning centre in Rugby. This will start in October 2027 and you must be able to attend for the full 8 weeks.
Along with other future leaders, you’ll gain insights into leading in a prison and cover all you need to know to work as a prison officer.
Find out more about prison officer training.
Life as a prison officer
Prison officers work with a range of people and perform a variety of tasks – from keeping the prison safe and secure, to helping vulnerable people through a difficult time in their lives.
Find out more about life as a prison officer.
Year 2: custodial manager
In your second year, you’ll work as a custodial manager – the most senior uniformed officers in a prison.
You’ll manage prison activities across multiple departments, people and resources, giving you the chance to develop your skills as a manager.
Year 3: head of function
In your third year, you’ll progress to a head of function role where you’ll lead your own department.
You’ll manage a variety of areas within the prison, like security or operations.
Progression and ongoing support
To progress each year, you’ll be expected to show your growth formally through assessments and on a daily basis within an operational setting.
To help you do this, we’re committed to giving you the training and development needed to excel in every role you take on.
Throughout the programme, you’ll:
- continuously develop your operational and leadership skills
- be sponsored by a senior operational leader who will mentor and coach you
- support, and be supported by, your peers on the programme – you’ll be brought together often for learning sessions and to celebrate progress
At the end of the programme
Once you successfully complete the 3-year programme, you’ll become a permanent head of function. You’ll have also gained the necessary knowledge and experience to take an assessment to see if you’re ready to progress to deputy governor.
Where you’ll be based
Throughout the programme you’ll undertake 3 placements. These will likely be at different prisons within your region or nearby.
Moving prisons means you can benefit from experiencing different establishments and get new opportunities to put into practice what you learn on the programme.
Working hours
Prison officers and custodial managers
As a prison officer, you’ll be contracted to work 37 hours a week. You’ll have the choice to increase this to 39 or 41 hours after you’ve completed your foundational training.
As a custodial manager, you’ll be contracted to work 37 hours.
In both roles, you’ll work shifts, including nights, weekends and bank holidays.
Head of function
As a head of function, you’ll be contracted to work 37 hours also, but you may need to work extra hours to oversee any incidents.
You’ll work a flexible working patterns including weekends, evenings and nights, and be expected to cover a duty governor shift (12 hours in the prison and on call during the night).
What we’re looking for (Back to top)
We’re looking for people who:
- will embrace the realities of prison life, not shy away from them
- are passionate about making a real difference in the lives of prisoners
- want to protect the public, promote rehabilitation, reduce reoffending and maintain security
- can deal with stressful, traumatic and emotional issues
- have great analytical, verbal and numerical skills
- have an ability to think quickly to consider risks and make evidence-based decisions with sound judgement
Read more about the skills you need to be a prison officer. This is essential for your first year on the programme and beyond.
Who can apply (Back to top)
To apply for the Future Prison Leaders Programme, you must have either:
- a degree or level 6 qualification (or be coming to the end of your qualification when applying)
- people management experience that you can evidence in your application form
You must also:
- be at least 18 years old when the Future Prison Leaders Programme starts
- have the right to work in the UK and meet Civil Service nationality rules
- have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years
- be able to pass a medical assessment and fitness test
About the application process (Back to top)
In your online application, you’ll need to:
- provide details like your National Insurance number, information about your nationality and information about your right to work in the UK
- share proof of your degree, level 6 qualification or management experience
- answer 12 multiple-choice questions and 2 written questions about scenarios you may face in prison
- choose up to 3 prisons you would like to work at – we try to place people at one of their preferences, but this will depend on prison needs when you start the programme
If your application is progressed, you’ll need to complete 2 online assessments:
- a numerical reasoning test that will assess your ability to interpret and handle numerical data
- a critical verbal reasoning test that will assess your effectiveness in understanding, interpreting and analysing written information
You’ll have an opportunity to try practice questions before completing the assessments.
If you’re successful at stage 2, you’ll be invited to complete a written exercise and attend an assessment centre.
The written exercise will be done online and will assess your written English and numerical ability.
The assessment centre will be held in person at our training college in Newbold Revel near Rugby. Here, we’ll test to see if you have the abilities, behaviours and strengths to be a senior prison leader.
It will take half a day and includes:
- an interview to assess your spoken English as well as your strengths and behaviours, aligned to the MoJ values
- a role play exercise to assess your communication skills in challenging situations
- a medical and fitness assessment
The dates for this will be on 19, 20, 21, 22, 25 and 26 January 2027. You must attend one date during this time.
When you’re invited to the assessment centre, you’ll be sent further information about what’s involved and how to prepare.
How to prepare for your assessment centre
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If you’re successful at the assessment centre, you’ll then be asked to do pre-employment checks. This can take 8 to 10 weeks to complete. It includes:
- a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check
- a Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)
- checking your right to work in the UK and the Civil Service
- identity, past employment and social media checks
- any criminal convictions and overseas police checks where necessary
- a health check
Once you’ve passed these checks, you’ll receive your provisional offer to start on the programme in September 2027. You’ll start your prison officer foundation training in October 2027.
How to apply (Back to top)
Applications are currently closed. You can apply between 5 to 30 October 2026.
We’ll be hosting a webinar on Tuesday 13 October 2026 at 6pm where you can find out more about the programme. Sign up for the webinar.
Otherwise, register your interest and we’ll get in touch when the application process opens.