National Service - a pragmatic approach

The UK is suffering from a lack of uptake in working in public services. This is particularly notable in the armed forces where numbers have dropped 3.7% from January 2023 but also the NHS where a number of vacancies remain unfilled. It is of national interest that our public services are appropriately resourced.

Much is said of how young people can support public services. The below sets out an alternative solution to getting younger generations into public service to create skilled individuals, successful public services careers, career longevity, and better resourced public services.

This idea is to create new career pathways to enter public services. The principles of the idea are as follows:

Every 16-year-old finishing school can choose a career pathway in one of the public services which can be in the armed forces, NHS, Fire Service or, Police.

The career pathway will serve as entry-level job training in one of these services and offer them a high standard of training in their chosen service.

The career pathway will last for two years – this is the same length of time as A-Level studies - and can qualify participants for further higher education opportunities.

At the end of the first year, participants can choose to move to another service where they will join the first-year intake of new joiners in the service.

At the end of the first and second year, successful participants will receive a public services qualification which will signify a high degree of training in their public service area of choice which can serve them in applications to job roles within public service sector or private sector employment or further higher education.

The outcome of this initiative is to create highly trained individuals. Therefore, qualifications will allow successful applicants to go into roles and further training such as an Armed Forces Officer (Armed Forces), Paramedic (NHS), Nurse (NHS), Community Officer (Police). The next stages of where this career pathway can take participants can be determined by the relevant public service.

It is encouraged that these full-time roles are paid at national minimum wage so that participants can earn-as-they-learn. I recognise this will be dependent on the state of public funds.

Every citizen between 16 and 18 has unrestricted access to these opportunities up to the age of 18, including completing the second year of participation if they turn 18 during the second-year term.

People older than 18 are welcome to also participate in the scheme however they will be expected to cover the cost of their participation. Student Finance organisations will be expected to offer financial support to those who qualify for such support.

This alternative to forced conscription is based on a voluntary uptake and creates long term skilled career prospects for young people.