Public services

Public services

Public services are often things we take for granted, but couldn’t cope without—education, fire services, waste management, social services, healthcare, police and all those other things. People who work in public services go home at the end of the week with more than just a pay cheque. They know their work helps other people and makes our society a better place.

Apprenticeships in this sector could also lead you into very different careers including youth work, classroom support, working as a firefighter, and housing the homeless.

In such a large sector, working environments and the skills you need will vary. Technical and scientific knowledge is important in some areas, whereas in other areas your people skills are all-important.

In Britain, about one in five workers are currently employed in the public sector. There are job opportunities across the country, and the number of public sector workers tends to be in proportion to the number of people living in the area. Generally speaking, public sector workers have more job security than people employed by private firms.

At a glance

Apprenticeships are available in community safety, emergency fire service operations, HM Forces, housing, local taxation, policing and many more
In the public services sector, it’s not just about money—the work you do makes a real difference to people’s lives and has a big impact on society

Qualities