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CIVIL AVIATION & METROPOLITAN POLICE - CHARLIE H. OM'16
What is your profession and current position?
I currently work within the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), within the Consumers and Markets Group as a Crisis Management Officer, however I will shortly be moving to the Aviation Security strand.
I’m also currently acting as a Special Sergeant in the Metropolitan Police alongside my career within the CAA.
How did Monkton get you ready for the world of work?
Resilience is one of the most key lessons I have learnt from school. The ability to crack on and get the job done when the circumstances may not be the best. Boarding was especially useful for developing this personality trait as boarders must muddle through school whilst being away from home.
What is your biggest professional achievement?
In the CAA I must say that being part of Operation Matterhorn (The aftermath of the collapse of Thomas Cook) was particularly enjoyable. It was a massive operation, costing upwards of £500M and I was in the centre of it. I was deployed to Peterborough for 11 weeks, living out a hotel room.
In the Police, I think planning an operation; deploying and supervising 30 Special Constables in the heart of London’s Soho area was one of my more enjoyable achievements.
What has been your most challenging professional moment?
During Operation Matterhorn, there were occasions where I was the sole member of staff who was the subject matter expert that was on duty on site. The CAA had pulled staff from all round the organisation and the majority had no idea what the role was of me and my team; these colleagues had been briefly trained in our area of expertise however I was often approached for advice and often for quick decisions that could massively disrupt British citizens overseas.
The Police presents another realm of challenges from dealing with complex and occasionally distressing crime to dealing with office politics!
What inspires and motivates you at work?
I enjoy working for the CAA as it is a regulatory body, and the role we serve makes a tangible difference. The CAA is also an enjoyable and ecliptic organisation where people of all backgrounds and specialities work together to make the skies, and everyone on the ground, safer.
The Police has given me the confidence and interpersonal skills to deal with almost any situation I am thrown into, and I like to remain volunteering with the Police to maintain those skills and experience policing in London. No two shifts are the same!
What is one piece of advice you would like to share with pupils or OMs about getting into your profession?
To the pupils at school, I’d say if you want to stand out, do something in your own time either on your Gap Year or at University. Whether this is volunteering with the Special Constabulary, St Johns Ambulance or with the HM Reserve Forces, you have set yourself apart from those who don’t make this extra societal contribution. Serving as a Police Officer in the Special Constabulary, straight after school, showed that I was a responsible person at 19, making arrests and following legal procedures, setting me apart from most people that age. This massively helped me to join a regulatory body like the CAA. You also pick up professional or physical skills that are useful in the working world.
Volunteering not only helps your CV, it can also offer you a unique perspective into society.
I’m also a massive advocate for Apprenticeships, I’d strongly suggest seeing what apprenticeships are available either in your desired professional area or just browsing to see what appeals to you.