Border Force Officer & Apprentice
We are looking for Candidates who are:
- Able to demonstrate sound interpersonal and relationship building skills and thrive working as part of a team
- Flexible, adaptable and creative in solving problems and dealing with change
- Able to confidently manage potentially difficult and challenging situations
- Able to demonstrate leadership ability or who show future leadership potential
- Able to show a strong sense of integrity and ethics
- Excellent communicators
- Objective thinkers and an analytical manner with an inquisitive and open mind
Border Force Apprenticeship
This apprenticeship offers you a fantastic opportunity to learn, earn and develop your skills. If successful, you will be joining over 280,000 people in the Operational Delivery Profession across Government who have the vital job of keeping the UK running and make a real difference to people's lives.
What you could be doing
Once trained as a Border Force Officer or Apprentice you could be performing tasks including:
- Operating primary control points that make decisions whether or not to admit passengers to the UK; profiling people, goods and vehicles for border offences, making referrals to senior staff, conducting and noting interviews as necessary;
- detecting and investigating offences arising from the movement of prohibited and restricted goods; supporting aviation, maritime and international rail operations; and arresting people and searching premises or vehicles.
- Our borders operate 24/7 and our officers do too. This means officers work a variety of rostered shifts which include nights and public holidays. Officers are compensated for working unsociable hours through receipt of additional allowances which vary depending on the level of flexibility and unsociable hours required at that location. The job adverts for each role will provide further details on what those payments are likely to be.
Training and Development
You will receive comprehensive operational training and support before you start the role. As well as classroom-based training, this includes one-to-one mentoring in the port environment and Personal Safety Training so you can operate safely and confidently. As you progress and gain experience, there are opportunities to specialise in areas such as forgery detection, safeguarding, which involves a focus on protecting vulnerable people, or join teams/units which are dedicated to specific activities.
We have a continuous learning culture in Border Force, and you will be encouraged to undertake training activities in line with your skills and career aspirations. There are lots of opportunities for career progression, whether into management, corporate roles or specialised operational roles.
Our borders operate 24/7 and our officers do too. This means officers work a variety of rostered shifts which include nights and public holidays. Officers are compensated for working unsociable hours through receipt of additional allowances which vary depending on the level of flexibility and unsociable hours required at that location. The job adverts for each role will provide further details on what those payments are likely to be.
The working environment, the people you encounter, the skills you will learn and the importance of the work we do make this a unique and exciting role. The team working ethos means you will build a strong bond with colleagues, supporting each other and solving problems together.
Working Arrangements
Standard full time working week of 37 hours net regardless of geographical location.
Pay and Allowances
Our teams manage border security 24 hours a day, 365 days a year which means they are required to work a shift pattern which can include:
- Night shifts
- Early morning starts
- Late night finishes
- Weekend and public holidays
Shifts vary in length and can be up to 12 hours in some teams. Shifts can change at short notice according to business need. Rosters are published 6-12 months in advance.
To compensate for the flexibility required and unsocial hours of the roster an Annualised Hours Allowance (AHA) is payable for these posts. The rate of this allowance is driven by business requirements and will vary by location, the flexibility and shift pattern that is worked. AHA is not a permanent or guaranteed entitlement, is subject to annual review and can go up or down each year depending on business need. However, AHA can increase the base salary of the post significantly.
How does the Annualised Hours Allowance work?
Staff receive their basic pay in the usual manner each month. In addition to basic pay they will receive an Annualised Hours Allowance (AHA). The AHA is:
- calculated as a percentage of their basic salary; and
- averaged over the entire year.
This means staff will receive the same monthly payment regardless of the hours they have worked in that month.
For example:
Teams based in Dover and Folkestone currently receive AHA of between 43 – 48% (current AHA payable by location is detailed in the advert). If based on AHA of 43% then pay would look like:
- Apprentice - £21,681 (national base pay) plus 43% AHA = £31,003
- Officer - £24,883 (national base pay) plus 43% AHA = £35,582
The AHA offered is reflective of the roster; the higher the AHA the more weekends, public holidays and unsociable hours will be worked.
How does AHA work with Part Time Working?
At most of our locations part time colleagues work the same shift pattern as full-time members of the team, over less days - so the same rate of AHA is payable.
Do I get AHA at the point of joining Border Force?
AHA is payable for working a roster that requires an element of flexibility and working unsocial hours. When starting in Border Force, Officers and Apprentices undergo initial training which lasts 5 weeks. The training takes place Monday to Friday 0900 - 1700 and does not require shift working. No AHA is payable during the initial 5-week period of training.
For internal candidates already in receipt of AHA, payment of the allowance will continue during the period of initial training.
Current AHA% Rates by Advertised Location
These rates are indicative only. AHA is subject to regular review and may go up as well as down dependent upon business need.
Priority Locations
| Location | Officer AHA% | Apprentice AHA% |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | ||
| Folkestone / Dover | 43% - 48% | 43% - 48% |
| South East | ||
| Folkestone / Dover | 43% - 48% | 43% - 48% |
| Heathrow | ||
| Heathrow | 20% - 40% | 20% - 40% |
| Gatwick | ||
| Gatwick | 39% | 39% |
Central
| Location | Officer AHA% | Apprentice AHA% |
|---|---|---|
| Felixstowe | 19.74% - 38.64% | 19.74% - 38.64% |
| Harwich | 25.94% - 40.64% | 25.94% - 40.64% |
| Tilbury | 30.28% - 43.66% | 30.28% – 43% |
| Luton Airport | 40.15% | 40.15% |
| Midlands Fast Parcels | 39.26% | 39.26% |
| London Gateway | 40.78% | 40.78% |
| Southend Airport | 33.2% | 33.2% |
| London City Airport | 22.2% | 22.2% |
| Coventry Int Hub | 33.52% | 33.52% |
| MK IPC | NA | 25.49% |
| Stansted Airport | 42.2% | NA |
| Birmingham | 38.83% | NA |
| East Midlands Airport | 39.15% | 39.15% |
| Langley | 21.66% | 21.66% |
North Region
| Location | BFO AHA% | Apprentice AHA% |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | 37.38% | NA |
| Belfast | 34.63% | NA |
| Aberdeen / Inverness | 32.65% | NA |
| Immingham BAU | 37.12% | NA |
| Immingham Transit | 34.12% | 34.12% |
| Hull BAU | 26.93% | 27.36% |
| Hull Transit | 29.49% | 29.49% |
| Teesport BAU (DTVA) | 39.12% | 39.12% |
| Teesport Transit | 36.69% | 36.69% |
| Leeds / Bradford | 36% | NA |
| Doncaster / Sheffield (RHA) | 42.17% | NA |
| NEYH Transit | NA | |
| Manchester | 42.32-42.74% | NA |
| Seaforth | 41.78% | NA |
| Liverpool JLA | 34.93% | NA |
| Heysham | 41.78% | NA |
South
| Location | BFO AHA% | Apprentice AHA% |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | 40.34% | NA |
| Southampton | 42.37% | NA |
| Poole | 29.47% | NA |
| Plymouth | 27.63% | NA |
| Bristol | 35.10% | NA |
| Cardiff | 41.63% | NA |
| Pembroke | 39.63% | NA |
| Newhaven | 35.95% | NA |
