Steve Cooper launching his new business at Outset Plymouth’s Wednesday Club recently, at the National Marine Aquarium.
THE era of cuts and austerity is beginning to have a major impact on people employed in the public sector, and never more so than the loyal ranks of hardworking police officers. The winds of economic change are sweeping away the old certainties of jobs for life, with a new culture of entrepreneurialism – now clanking on the doors of Britain’s most conservative institutions.
Drawing on 28 years of policing experience, and with the help of ERDF funded Outset Plymouth, Steve Cooper has set up his own micro business called ‘Rank Success’ offering coaching and mentoring support to UK police officers who aspire to achieve promotion.
The transitions from constable to sergeant and sergeant to inspector are major career milestones, and with a changing landscape likely to include reduced vacancies and increased competition. Some assistance at the right time, can make all the difference in preparing – but this can be hard to find.
Steve explained: “Officers invest their time, energy, and money to study for law and practical examinations just to ‘qualify’ to apply for promotions. For some, this can take years to achieve. A lack of specific support in this niche area from this point onward is a topic that features in police blogs, with officers enquiring about help to prepare them for their force promotion selection processes. My business will help fill this gap by providing a service to would be promotion candidates to help them get it right first time.”
Steve said “In supporting individuals over time I have found that they tend to make similar mistakes. Varying levels of uncertainty exist around how to effectively prepare for a promotion process. Many also leave it to the last minute, starting preparation only when their force announces a process or specific opportunities are advertised.
“A promotion skills workshop or one to one support can help identify significant ‘gaps’ in knowledge or understanding. The good news with this, is that any gaps can usually be addressed, with plenty of time to do something about it. Workshops can help to build confidence and shape outlooks and attitudes. When I started receiving phone calls out of the blue from individuals seeking assistance in preparing for promotion I started researching the potential for a business interest.”
Steve says “With a bit of support at the right time we can all do better and this is certainly true in relation to preparing for promotion. I have seen some [otherwise] very capable, experienced and able individuals fail to get through to interview mainly because they do not understand how to skill-fully present operational and other experiences to the standard required in written applications for assessment. This is can be learned, as can issues around preparing for an interview board.”
Steve attended Outset Plymouth’s free workshop sessions to help him set up his new business and heard about Outset through the local media. “I found the marketing and PR tips very helpful, but also the structured business plans, and network support events.”
Outset Plymouth has been funded by the ERDF Competitiveness and Employment programme, which invests in activities that will have a long-term impact on the growth and development of the local economy.
Anyone looking for more information can contact: www.ranksuccess.co.uk or www.outsetplymouth.co.uk
