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Lead, accelerate your career, change lives

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Grace, 2018 cohort

Lead, accelerate your career, change lives

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Benefits Back to top

Being a prison officer is a challenging but highly rewarding job. As well as the satisfaction of making a significant impact on one of society’s most intractable problems, you will gain attributes and experience that will make you stand out from any crowd.

#We offer a range of benefits

The Unlocked Graduates leadership development programme also offers a wide range of benefits. We have been in the Times Top 100 jobs since 2019 when we were the highest new entrant. Our programme comes with the following comprehensive package of benefits:

Competitive Salary

Starting salary of £30,902- £38,165 (dependent on location).

Mentoring & Support

Group support, 1-1 mentoring and continuing professional development.

Work placements

Work placement opportunities with employers outside the prison sector. Access to further career opportunities in a range of industries, including government and public policy, law, consultancy, and many others.

Funded Masters

Fully-funded, bespoke Master’s degree focused on leadership and rehabilitation.

Policy Experience

Participants have the option in their second year to conduct their research project from a policy lens, with the chance to publish their paper in the Prison Service Journal.

Ambassador Network

A strong network of Ambassadors. Our Ambassador network is a peer-led programme that provides a platform for Ambassadors to engage, organise and identify problems.

Networking & Events

Ongoing networking and development opportunities throughout and following our two-year programme. Annual events such as the Unlocked Graduates conference, the Annual Lecture and more.

Heightened Access

We are a deferred entry partner with the Civil Service Fast Stream, as well as offering preferential access to corporate partner schemes.

Innovation Projects

The Innovation Acceleration Programme (IAP) is designed to support and amplify the impact participants can have by offering participants funding for evidence driven innovation projects in their prisons.

#Career development

The development and experience you will gain from the programme are highly valued by potential future employers – including our partner organisations who offer work placements for Unlocked prison officers.

Many graduates choose to stay within the justice system after they have finished the programme or go on to make a difference in a variety of prestigious careers, but no matter where their career takes them, Unlocked continues to support this growing network of change-makers. With alumni attending international conferences in Lisbon and Madrid, sharing best practice with prisons in the US and Norway and winning awards such as the Prime Minister award.

Play the video “Transfer your leadership skills”
Transfer your leadership skills
Hear how Daniel impressed partners and directors on his placement with KPMG.

To find out more about our work placement opportunities, click here.

The foundation that Unlocked Graduates are getting through their experience will set them up for an amazing career. They are learning how to solve problems fast in a difficult and fluid environment. Their communication skills are really advanced – having been well-honed in the tricky operational environment that they are working in. Experts in building rapport and trust. These are just the kinds of qualities that we look for in our people.

Nicholas Fox, Partner, KPMG LLP
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