Commercial Services Student Placement 2022/2023

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) employs approximately 39,000 officers and staff, plus thousands of volunteers and provides policing to one of the most diverse capital cities in the world.

The service provides policing to the 32 London boroughs as well as a number of other local, national and international functions such as counter terrorism and organised crime prevention. As the country’s largest police service, the service is recognised internationally as a leader in fighting crime and many other policing organisations look to the MPS for best practice and guidance.

We are looking to recruit students for a 52 week student placement with the Metropolitan Police Service.  All roles will give students valuable insight and experience of working for one of the largest public organisations in the UK and the largest single employer in London. The role is a substantive post and we seek to provide valuable practical experience wherever our students work.

Commercial Services

Commercial Services pro-actively manage all of the Met’s trading relationships and provide advice and support to enable commands and business units to maximise value for the taxpayer.

The Met’s Commercial Services is looking to recruit students for a 52 week placement which will see them joining a team who have an integral role to play in the MPS achieving their mission to keep London safe for everyone and their vision to be the most trusted police service in the world.

The MPS spends around £850 million a year on a wide range of goods and services which the commercial services team is responsible for. Upon joining the team you could be involved in buying anything from megaphones to motorcycles, boots to boats and handcuffs to horses.

You will have the opportunity to support a team who are responsible for negotiating and managing contracts with a range of companies, who make sure the MPS is in tune with the market, understands its suppliers and achieves value for money in everything they do.

The placement will allow you to develop your skills, experience and knowledge of business, commercial and procurement principles, processes and practices. Commercial capability is increasingly recognised as the top skill sought by employers in all sectors and a placement with the Commercial Services team will allow you to start to build those sought after capabilities and skills in a fast paced and ever-changing environment.

The Role

Candidates must be undergraduate students in a sandwich year course returning to study in autumn 2023 and either live in London or be studying at a London University.

We are ideally looking to recruit university placement students currently pursuing business, accounting & finance, law and economics degrees.

Students who have a keen interest in building commercial skills and capabilities which include business acumen and commercial judgement, procurement and sourcing, contract management and strategy and policy.

Ideally, you will be studying or interested in commercial/supply chain/procurement/business management.

Location

• Kilburn Police Station, however, you may be required to travel due to business needs.

Responsibilities

The day to day role will vary based on the team that you are assigned to but some of the activities you may be expected to get involved in may include but are not limited to:

• Attending internal and external/supplier meetings alongside senior members of staff
• Monitoring mailboxes and responding to queries from internal and external stakeholders and customers
• Updating trackers used to monitor supplier performance and KPI’s
• Building and managing relationships both internally and externally

The areas you may be involved in include, but are not limited to:

• Technology - Covers all IT requirements generally working with our digital policing and transformation teams
• Property and Estates – Covers all procurements for the Met estate, ranging from small scale station repairs to whole new build projects working with our property services department
• Corporate and Professional – Covers all procurements for goods and services including stationery, office equipment, document services, travel services, consultants and agency staff
• Operational – Covers all procurement for operational services for example purchasing forensic services/equipment, firearms, public order equipment, clothing and animal welfare
• Vehicles – Covers all procurements for operational vehicles, cycles, boats, maintenance and repairs of vehicles
• Counter Terrorism and Covert – Covers all procurements for the National Counter Terrorism Headquarters (NCTPHQ), including covert equipment, surveillance software, robots, explosives and vehicles
• Enablement and Performance – Includes a wide range of activities including governance and compliance, responsible procurement, information and systems management, reporting, policy and procedure tools, and training

Benefits of working for Met Commercial Services

• The opportunity to help the MPS achieve their mission and vision
• The opportunity to develop the skills required to work in a fast paced and ever-changing commercial environment
• An on boarding and induction process that will allow you to embed into the commercial team quickly and smoothly
• Clear objectives so you know what you are expected to do from day one
• The opportunity to work in a supportive team environment
• Access to various networks including other Greater London Authorities (GLA) e.g. TFL and London Fire Brigade.
• Opportunity to become a member of the Metropolitan Police Sports and Social Association giving use of Royal Palace and Historic Houses cards, and discounted theatre tickets. Also access to Blue Light Card allowing discounts at a number of retail and food outlets.

What our former student interns have said

"I am very glad that I applied for this role as I have gained an insight into the world of procurement. It was a very positive and interesting experience, one which I found very valuable and learnt a lot from. I was involved in a variety of projects and I achieved so much during my placement as well as overcoming some challenges along the way. Everyone I worked with was so kind and welcoming, always providing me with help and support”

"Working for the Met Police was an amazing experience. It allowed me to apply my academic knowledge into real world situations and made me feel like I was making a real difference, while also taking my experience back to university to apply in my studies”

"A fulfilling placement experience complete with challenging work, many opportunities and an inclusive working environment. I’d highly recommend this placement to students looking to develop their skill set within a public sector organisation"

“I am very grateful that I have had the opportunity to work in the MET. This experience has allowed me to stand out from many other students as it has provided me with the knowledge and advance skill set on how to use major platforms such as PSOP or COUPA. Being trained on these systems provides me with a status that is more appealing to employers in such a competitive work industry”

Candidates must also demonstrate the following skills

Communication skills

• An excellent level of both written and verbal communication skills, and ability to present information appropriately to a wide variety of clients in a clear, concise and non-technical manner. Written communications will need to be well prepared and logically structured.

Planning and organisational skills

• Plans and organises their own work, liaising with their manager as to how the work fits in with the project.

Time management

• Prioritises tasks and keeps to deadlines. Has a flexible and self-motivated approach to work, being able to work unsupervised if required.

Problem solving skills

• Can define and solve problems in a logical manner, being aware of the variety of solutions possible. Shows evidence of being able to balance theory with reality to produce a pragmatic solution.

Technical skills

• IT skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and an aptitude and willingness to learn new software packages. Good numerical and statistical analysis skills and being able to make sense of and interpret qualitative and quantitative data.

Team working

• Can work with a diverse group of colleagues and clients at all levels. Being an active team player and show willingness to help other people.

Personal responsibility

• Have a proactive approach, being able to critically appraise their actions and accept responsibility given to them.

Respect for diversity

• Demonstrates a respect for diversity through all aspects of work. Shows consideration and respect for the opinions and feelings of others, regardless of their status or background.

Additional Information

To Apply, please visit our website. Applications will be via a detailed CV, personal statement and online application form. Your personal statement should outline why you are interested in the role and how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role. (NB. Please do not attach 2 copies of your CV). Please submit both documents in word, do not PDF either document.

Completed applications must be submitted by 30/01/2022. Interviews will take place: week commencing 4th April 2022

We view diversity as fundamental to our success. To tackle today’s complex policing challenges, we need a workforce made up from all of London’s communities. Applications from across the community are therefore essential.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, the Met have committed to ensuring that disabled people and those with long-term health conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.