Rank Success: Police Promotion and Leadership Podcast

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This week I had the pleasure of interviewing former senior officer Mike West KPM. Mike is a distinguished SIO, spending most of his career as a Detective at various ranks.

Mike is very generous with his time, discussing policing, leadership, his career, investigation standards, life beyond policing and retirement, promotion processes, CPD and much more in this 70 minute interview. He also shares the experience of receiving his King's Police Medal.

I hope you find it insightful and interesting. Thanks again to Mike for...

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Police officer and staff turnover is at record highs. Wellbeing and job satisfaction are through the floor, while experienced officers are walking out the door.

In this jam-packed free episode (available to subscribers first), I comment on the key issues along with what police leaders and forces can do for better retaining people. This is essential for your CPD if you're an aspiring leader and care about your colleagues.

I hope you find it insightful and interesting.

If...

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The government have shocked everyone in England and Wales by outlining plans for 43 local police forces to become 12 regional ones in 5 years. This is bigger than any other change in policing for decades. Forget police degrees, new promotion processes, Casey or leadership reviews. Following Police Scotland's lead, the very foundations are in for a shake up!

In this jam-packed free episode (available to subscribers first), I give an overview of the proposals, timescales, my own perspectives, but importantly your role as a police leader through the inevitably turbulent...

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The 2015 Leadership Review sought comprehensive changes in police leadership and culture at all levels. Now another review has been launched by the College of Policing to "conduct a comprehensive review of police leadership at all levels to ensure policing can respond to evolving threats and challenges and meet public expectations." And with an associated commission no less, led by former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett and former Policing Minister Lord Herbert.

In this jam-packed free episode, I give an overview of the review and who's involved, its relevance to other strategic...

In my latest update on the new Sergeant and Inspector Promotion and Progression (SIPP) scheme, I ask again whether it is 'doomed to succeed' the NPPF. For the latest details on SIPP, see my SIPP FAQ blog.

Tried & tested police promotion materials, including premium eGuides, CVF deep-dive, & video Masterclass content:

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Here's a hot debrief from my recent visit to the national Emergency Services Show 2025.

Tried & tested police promotion materials, including premium eGuides, CVF deep-dive, & video Masterclass content:

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Become a premium podcast subscriber today for your ongoing CPD...

REVIEWS: "Gold dust!", "Really enjoyed", "Reassuring", "Easy listening", "Simplifies things", "Paid off".

WHY SUBSCRIBE? LOADS of subscriber-only regular podcasts, EXCLUSIVE access to the BEST of my archives, be FIRST to hear new new episodes, and get 25% DISCOUNT off premium toolkits (by request).

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Hot on the heels of my recent interview with the Notts Chief, I travel to the south of England to interview Hampshire Police Deputy Chief Constable, Sam de Reya.

This is another must-listen exclusive and inspiring interview with another of policing's most senior leader. Sam is generous with her time and covers a great deal of ground in this 45 minutes, including her career to date, Hampshire's priorities, how leadership changes through the ranks, advice for aspiring leaders, support for women in policing, and much more.

I'd like to thank Sam again for kindly sparing the...

The Oscar Kilo annual wellbeing survey was published recently. While it made lots of headlines, the details are essential learning for aspiring leaders, which I summarise for you in this FREE podcast. Listen in for my perspectives on the good, the bad, and the ugly of these police wellbeing findings.

For exclusive regular premium episodes and to support my work, please consider becoming a subscriber today for just £4.99 per month.

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I offer a range of free materials and easy-listening podcasts for your ongoing CPD. Please 'pass the...

Aspiring to promotion? Interested or working in Notts Police? Both?? Either way, this is a must-listen exclusive interview with Nottinghamshire Police's Temporary Chief Constable, Steve Cooper (no relation!).

This is fantastic and inspiring interview with another policing senior leader. You'll gain perspectives on how Notts Police are doing with their PEEL performance inspections, what they're looking for in police leaders, tips on how to answer promotion board questions, and much more besides in this jam-packed half hour.

I'd like to thank Steve again for kindly sparing time and sharing his own career highlights and lessons...

Here's the recording of my inaugural FREE webinar series. It's on "The Great Sergeant" and is relevant whether you aspire to be a Sergeant or lead teams of Sergeants.

This recording is from my FREE YouTube Live event, held on 1 July. I also make it completely FREE for you here. Apologies for a little interference in the audio, not sure what's going on there but will sort before my next podcast!

And finally, watch this space for an upcoming trilogy on this very important and powerful topic. Policing needs...

Here's a fantastic and insightful interview with another inspiring police leader: Festus Akinbusoye.

Festus served as the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner from 2021 to 2024, worked as a dedicated Special Constable clocking up 30 hours per week, and is a successful local businessman and public figure. As you can expect, this is a fascinating and insightful interview covering a lot of ground and a unique perspective, not least coming from the other side of the fence in terms of the PCC role.

I'd like to thank Festus again for the time he puts to...

This week I had the pleasure of interviewing West Midlands Police's ACC Matt Welsted for an in-depth interview.

Matt is open about his career journey and hurdles faced, including the challenges of neurodiversity. He shares what forces can do to help and what neurodiverse individuals can do to help themselves too. In this wide-ranging interview, Matt also shares CPD guidance, leadership insights, and even goes deep on AI, both its current uses and the future.

I'd like to thank Matt again for sparing time from his busy schedule. I'll be posting a...

For this episode I discuss the value of gratitude. Gratitude is about recognising and appreciating the positive aspects of life. Not only does this improve your wellbeing, it will change how you approach promotion and your career ambitions for the better.

This is a more philosophical and introspective one, but relates intrinsically to the CVF and We Are Emotionally Aware. It also links to the wider promotion framework, other competencies, and generally how you can use it to transform your mindset around promotion.

I hope you enjoy the episode!<...

The College of Policing updated the CVF last year, from the 2016 version to the latest 2024 version. Forces are gradually transitioning to this new framework when assessing promotion candidates, but aspiring officers remain mystified by the CVF. The language can be confusing, unclear, or have lots of overlaps.

In this podcast I share information about my new 'CVF Demystified' video, which explains every competency and value and more. I also explain the context of the CVF in the podcast, how it's changed, and give a free example of how I explain one of the behaviours.<...

Hot on the heels of my recent interview with Jo Shiner, I travelled onward to London for an exclusive interview with Peter O'Doherty, who is Commissioner of the City of London Police.

Peter is very generous with his time and there's a lot of detail for aspiring leaders everywhere to get their teeth into. Also, if you're interested in cyber crime and cyber security, you'll want to hear what he has to say. Pete answers an array of questions about leadership, emotional awareness, his own career, advice to aspiring officers, his NPCC cyber portfolio, and much more.<...

Last week I had the privilege of interviewing Jo Shiner, Chief Constable of Sussex Police. In this exclusive and punchy interview, Jo answers questions about women in policing, advice to aspiring officers, road safety, and much more.

I'd like to thank Jo again for sparing some time from her busy schedule. I'll be posting a write-up on my policepromotion.blog soon, but for now, grab a coffee, sit back, and enjoy the show!

For exclusive regular premium episodes and to support my work, please consider becoming a subscriber today...

The 29/01/2025 (not 25th as I mistakenly mention!) marks the start of the Chinese New Year, 'Year of the Snake'. This free podcast gives an advance preview and relates the symbolic traits of the snake to police leadership qualities.

There's going to be more great premium content this coming year, so I recommend you subscribe to invest a little in your leadership CPD.

For more exclusive regular premium episodes, please consider becoming a subscriber today and supporting my work for just £4.99 per month.

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For this podcast, I travelled to Nottinghamshire to interview Inspector Jerone Taylor. Jerone was generous with his time discussing various aspects of promotion from his perspective having recently achieved his second promotion in just 3 years.

We cover promotion processes, neurodiversity, relevant CPD, his approach to leadership development, Jerone's role in the Black Police Association, challenges faced in promotion, and much more.

I'd like to thank Jerone again for the discussion, which I'll be posting a write-up on my policepromotion.blog soon, but for now, grab a coffee, sit back...

This week I travelled to Surrey Police HQ in Guildford to have the privilege of interviewing Chief Constable Tim De Meyer. Tim has had a long and varied policing career, joining Surrey Police as Chief in early 2023. In this exclusive interview, he provides valuable learning and many pointers for aspiring police leaders everywhere.

Tim was generous with his time, answering a variety of questions thoroughly and candidly for nearly an hour. He talks on the various leadership ranks, his 'disclosure' NPCC portfolio lead subject, investigation quality, Surrey's policing plans, and much more.

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This free episode is all about the police officer pay scales, following on from my blog. I outline the return on investment promotion brings, run through the Federation rank pay scales, compare police officer salaries across the UK, and more.

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For regular more in-depth content targeted for your ongoing police leadership CPD like this, or if you'd just like to support my work, become a PREMIUM subscriber today for just £4.99 per month.

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About me and Rank Success: As a coach/mentor support...

CPD: Is yours continuous or sporadic? In this epic FREE podcast, I discuss how you can work on your CPD plan to get ahead when promotion opportunities arise.

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For regular more in-depth content targeted for your ongoing police leadership CPD like this, or if you'd just like to support my work, become a PREMIUM subscriber today for just £4.99 per month.

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About me and Rank Success: As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to p...

In this podcast I share some insights following my visit on 18 Sept to the Emergency Services and Tech Show at the NEC, Birmingham. Lots of tech, gadgets and equipment featured to support emergency crews including police officers and staff. The event also included CPD, data management tools and options, and ideas and options for mental health support. Robots and all sizes of drones were there too. What took my interest were a few of the facilitated talks on stage including ‘How law enforcement cracked Encrochat and the story 4 years on’ and also ‘How to take a proactive, collaborative approach to tac...

Jerone has utilised Rank Success services for support through both the Sergeant and Inspector promotion process. In this free video update, I share his in-depth story in his own words, which may well resonate with you. I then offer an array of insights and guidance to help you learn from others experience and help you on your way to promotion success.

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For regular more in-depth content targeted for your ongoing police leadership CPD like this, or if you'd just like to support my work, please consider becoming a premium subscriber today...

Last week I had the privilege of an exclusive interview with Chief Constable Craig Guildford QPM VR DL. Craig has been Chief Constable for West Midlands Police for over 18 months, previously serving as Chief in Nottinghamshire. Like all my exclusive interviews with senior police leaders, he provides valuable learning and many pointers for aspiring police leaders everywhere.

Craig kindly answers an array of questions in this 30 minutes, including his advice for aspiring officers on where to focus their promotion prep, views on compassion and other emerging values in policing, his favourite ranks through a...

On my recent visit to Sussex Police, I asked officers there "What makes a good leader?". In this FREE episode (accessible to subscribers first) I share the findings and the completely new leadership framework I created from the dozens of Post-it notes placed in a jar.

I call it the Sussex Leadership Framework (SLF). Read more about it and a visual overview in my associated blog, but for now I hope you enjoy the episode!

For regular more in-depth content targeted for your ongoing police leadership CPD, or if...

This is just a quick update about my police promotion masterclasses.

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About me and Rank Success: As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful insights to help you succeed in promotion; especially those aspiring to Sergeant, Inspector and Chief Inspector. I hope you find this podcast helpful leadership CPD. Please 'pass the ladder down' and share with colleagues to support their leadership development too. As always, I welcome your thoughts/feedback.

For FREE support on y...

Last week I was invited by Sussex Police Federation to present at their officer roadshow / engagement event.

Many aspiring officers approached my stall and we had some good discussions about their views and concerns about promotion, leadership, and policing generally. In this debrief, I share some of those insights, my experiences of the event, and perspectives on what Sussex Police Federation are doing for their members.

I'll be posting a write-up on my policepromotion.blog soon about this event, the interview, and a question I asked all attendees, but...

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Thompson, Treasurer and Dep Secretary of Sussex Police Federation. This followed an exciting engagement event they ran for officers at Sussex Police.

It was a really interesting perspective speaking to the Federation about support for officers, including shining a light on some innovative practices here in Sussex Police. Pay and morale survey, national and local Federation issues, the role of the Federation, professional standards, supporting officers to achieve success, training, scrutiny of officers, the fairness of promotion, their new Sussex Fed magazine, and more.

I've been busy in recent months, but am now proud to share with you the fruits of my intensive labour!

So this is just a quick episode summarising the features and benefits of my BRAND NEW police promotion masterclass, which focuses on 'what works' in promotion and leadership.

You can download your copy securely from my site:

www.ranksuccess.co.uk

Check out my YouTube channel for the trailer, extended highlights, and outtakes videos all published recently.

This week I had the privilege of interviewing Acting Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Jim Colwell. Jim has been standing in as Chief Constable for DCP since July 2023, stepping up to the position following the suspension of Will Kerr. And as another inspiring police senior leader, he doesn't disappoint, with this exclusive discussion providing valuable learning for aspiring police leaders everywhere.

A lot of ground is covered in the 40 minutes, including Jim's proudest moments in policing, advice for aspiring officers, views on compassion and other emerging values in policing, the step up...

Officers moving to Australia: It's the talk of the town at the moment in policing. Both in terms of how disgruntled cops are handing in their warrant cards in droves, while Australian police forces are capitalising on the opportunity to poach good officers with a move overseas.

So in this FREE episode (open first to subscribers) of Season 4, it's timely I cover this issue, because Australian forces are currently hosting engagement sessions around the country to try and entice UK officers and their families. Certainly worth a listen if you're interested in this topic, or even interested...

For Episode 6 of my Year of the Dragon season, I had the pleasure of interviewing Darren Lockley, a retired Superintendent. This podcast is another inspiring interview for aspiring officers.

We cover a lot of ground between his start in policing just after ‘Life on Mars’ :-) through to his fresh new start outside of policing as a senior manager more recently and after a few years enjoying retirement.

Lots of insights and tips for you to listen in on, as we chat about his career experience in policing, his promotion journey through the ranks, approach to C...

For S4E3, I had the privilege of interviewing former Assistant Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Paul Davies.

I asked him a range of questions on policing and leadership, to which his responses are insightful and fascinating. We cover a range of subjects, with loads of lessons for aspiring police leaders everywhere, whether you seek promotion or lateral career development. Topics include the promotion process, his own failure in promotion and what he learned, CPD, leadership styles, and controversial matters like the politicisation of policing.

You won't regret listening to this jam-pack hour...

If you hadn't heard, it's currently Neighbourhood Policing Week. So in this bonus free episode 28 of Season 3, I give a verbal walk through neighbourhood policing, the history and the zeitgeist. This is fantastic listening for all aspiring police leaders and those seeking to make lateral moves or support their own team.

Here's the link to the article I mention:

https://policeprofessional.com/feature/what-happened-to-bobbies-on-the-beat/

Be first to access my podcasts, and get exclusive premium episodes, by becoming a subscriber today for just £4.99 per month.

https://podcasters.spotify.com/p...

It's nearly February 2nd and another Groundhog Day! In this episode 27 of Season 3, I discuss the analogy of the infamous film starring Bill Murray, in relation to promotion preparation. I share insights about the common mistake officers make when going for promotion, plus example experiences of others which may resonate and inspire you to action in 2024.

Will you be heading for six more weeks of winter? Or will you decide to put a spring in your step this year?

Be first to access my podcasts, and get exclusive premium episodes, by becoming a subscriber today...

S3E26 is another premium SUBSCRIBER-ONLY episode, where I cover the recently-published National Police Wellbeing Survey 2023.

The Summary of Evidence and Insights report from Oscar Kilo, Durham University and the College of Policing, is an important one for aspiring police leaders to browse and comprehend. However, at 61 pages and full of academese jargon, descriptive statistics and so on, you may be forgiven for not going in depth. So in this podcast, I draw out some key points to take heed of as a police leader and why it's important.

One reason this is important for...

In S3E24 I use the analogy of the Hunger Games to discuss how you can ensure the odds remain ever in your favour when it comes to promotion.

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As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful insights to help you succeed in promotion; especially those aspiring to Sergeant, Inspector and Chief Inspector. I hope you find this podcast helpful leadership CPD. Please 'pass the ladder down' and share with colleagues to support their leadership development too. As always, I welcome your...

In S3E23 I answer questions about acting and temporary promotion. This includes how it can be both an advantage and a disadvantage in securing substantive promotion.

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As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful insights to help you succeed in promotion; especially those aspiring to Sergeant, Inspector and Chief Inspector. I hope you find this podcast helpful leadership CPD. Please 'pass the ladder down' and share with colleagues to support their leadership development too. As always, I welcome your thoughts/feedback.<...

Today's topic in S3E22 is all about paper sifts and promotion applications. I frame it as 'Trick or Treat', wondering whether the force processes and help given (or lack of!) are simply inadvertently cruel or a brutal test of emotional resilience.

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As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful insights to help you succeed in promotion; especially those aspiring to Sergeant, Inspector and Chief Inspector. I hope you find this podcast helpful leadership CPD. Please 'pass the ladder down' and share...

Hello Police Scotland! There's much controversy about the promotion processes in Police Scotland currently. Not least with people trying to get to grips with the CVF. In S3E18, I dedicate this podcast to aspiring officers north of the border who want to get to grips with it all and hit the ground running. I hope you find it useful!

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As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful insights to help you succeed in promotion; especially those aspiring to Sergeant, Inspector and...

Welcome to yet another free police promotion podcast episode! In S3E16, I share my exclusive interview with another inspiring police leader, ACC Katy Barrow-Grint of Thames Valley Police. This is another with so many policing and leadership gems you won't want to miss! Love Island and golden toilets get a mention, but the main topics you'll appreciate focus around women in leadership, investigation standards, VAWG, and much more relevant to your police leadership career.

I'd like to thank Katy again for sparing some time from her busy schedule. I'll be posting a write-up on my policepromotion...

For S3E12, I once again invited my friend Adrian to ask me some questions on police promotion and leadership matters. In this one we discuss coaching and mentoring. The initial question was about the stigma associated with it among the Federated ranks, but a lot more ground is covered than that. I hope you enjoy!

The link to the book I mention by Goffee and Jones is below:

https://amzn.to/3ObUFFk

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As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to provide...

For S3E9, I'm trying a new format. I've been around the country interviewing Chief Constables and others for their perspectives on police leadership and promotion. In this interview, I turn the questions on myself! I invite my good friend Adrian to ask me questions of interest to police officers and promotion candidates alike, as a new perspective for your CPD. In this episode, we only got through one question: "Why is promotion unfair?" We did have others lined up, but will save them for another time seeing as this one itself took 45 mins to explore! I hope you...

In S3E8 I run through the Staffordshire Police promotion process and materials, giving aspiring officers a personal promotion briefing. This is also relevant if you're a PC seeking Sergeant promotion in any force. You might also like my podcast interview with Staffordshire's Chief Constable, Chris Noble (S3E2), plus a writeup of my blog, all relevant to the current opportunity you have.

As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful insights to help you succeed in promotion; especially those aspiring to Sergeant, Inspector and...

S3E6 is targeted at officers who have just passed their legal exam, or indeed anyone suffering from procrastination.

As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful insights to help you succeed in promotion; especially those aspiring to Sergeant, Inspector and Chief Inspector. I hope you find this podcast helpful leadership CPD. Please 'pass the ladder down' and share with colleagues to support their leadership development too. As always, I welcome your thoughts/feedback.

More support available: For more FREE support on your...

For S3E5, I share a trilogy of related videos uploaded to YouTube last month, just before the Casey Review published. The themes are centred around violence against women and girls, and how VAWG may well feature on your promotion boards. You may find these audio versions helpful if you haven't seen the videos, or indeed just want a useful reminder on your commute now that the news focus has moved on to other things.

First, I cover the subject of conduct and setting standards. Then I talk through the NPCC's VAWG reports, covering all facets of...

In S3E4, I give my thoughts on the recent article published by the Police Federation about 'worryingly low promotion success rates down to a lack of learning time during work'. They point out how around only 1 in 6 of their survey respondents were successful in promotion last year, demonstrating how brutally.competitive promotion processes are. The key angle the PFEW take is protected learning time, especially for the exam (which you'll find I've blogged on before). But the real competition begins when competing with other officers for substantive positions.

I discuss the ins and outs of this...

Season 3 of my free police promotion podcast continues strong, where I'm thrilled to share my far-reaching platform with DI Becky Davies, of Devon and Cornwall Police.

Becky kindly and openly shares her story of neurodivergence, including wider perspectives on neurodiversity in policing. She talks about her struggles in achieving promotion, the barriers, but also proposes solutions. This is an audio version of her recent guest blog I've posted on my blog site, link below:

https://policepromotion.blog/2023/02/20/beckys-story-neurodivergence-and-police-promotion/

I'm happy to share my platform reaching 1000's of officers around the UK and beyond...

Episode 2 of Season 3 of my free police promotion support is another BANGER! Today I had the privilege of interviewing Chief Constable Chris Noble of Staffordshire Police.

I asked him a range of questions on policing and leadership, to which his responses are insightful and fascinating. There's tons of lessons here for aspiring police leaders everywhere, whether you seek promotion or lateral career development. He also shares his perspectives on controversial police matters like Performance Development Reviews (PDRs), his expectations of leaders, why Staffordshire decided to choose bespoke CVF values, the more strategic ranks of Inspector, Chief Inspector...

For the inaugural episode of Season 3, Year of the Rabbit,  I discuss neurodiversity and my thoughts around support for officers and staff with ND / Autistic Spectrum Conditions. I also expand upon thoughts within my new blog, 'Thinking Differently About Neurodiversity in Policing Part 3'...

https://policepromotion.blog/2023/02/11/thinking-differently-on-neurodiversity-in-police-leadership-part-3 

As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful insights to help you succeed in promotion; especially those aspiring to Sergeant, Inspector and Chief Inspector. I hope you find this podcast helpful leadership CPD. Please 'pass th...

In S2 E27 I discuss the controversial decision in Devon and Cornwall police to waive the remaining promotion process to fill Sergeant vacancies with those with successful applications. That means no interview boards or presentations to conduct, candidates will instead be straight through to NPPF Step 4. A paper-based promotion process if you like! This is just one method of the rich tapestry of promotion processes I've previously covered in my two-part blog on the postcode lottery of police promotion!

As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to provide valuable...

In S2 E26 I give you a kickstart to 2023 with a super-briefing on promotion. 

I cover gap assessments, smart goal-setting, preparation, and much more in this 27 minute episode. I recorded in my conservatory, so you may just hear a little background noise of the rain!  I also discuss my new and improved Interview Success eGuide and Sergeant's example evidence guide, both of which are available on my website. You can go further with a comprehensive superbriefing, by downloading my complete suite of materials, which for the new year I also share a new offer: The inclusion of my...

In this festive video episode of my Police Promotion & Leadership podcast, I  share insights and tips from a batch of recent testimonials I've received. I discuss what worked for these officers and insights as to your own learning towards not just being successful at police promotion, but  putting clear blue water between you and other candidates.

For example, consider the following practice  promotion board question: 

"What's the difference between the roles of Sergeant and Inspector?" 

Read all these testimonials and more here:

www.ranksuccess.co.uk/testimonials 

As a coach...

I have an exciting and inspiring leadership interview for you as Episode 23 of Season 2! This week I had the privilege of interviewing Chief Constable Lee Freeman of Humberside Police. Yes, that Humberside Police, recently rated the best performing force in the country by HMICFRS!

I think you'll enjoy his grounded communication style and 'intelligence-led leadership' approach, as I ask him about performance, leadership, culture and more under his stewardship in Humberside Police. There's a heap of lessons here for aspiring leaders everywhere, including Lee's universal tips on police promotion. He also shares his perspectives on leading with...

For Episode 20 of Season 2, I reflect on the regular furore among officers over the myriad of police promotion processes around UK forces (and beyond!). I hope you find it useful food for thought. Leave a message with your own thoughts via the link below. You can see the video version of this content on my YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/UvQsz4WHR1Q 

As a coach/mentor supporting UK (and beyond!) police promotion candidates, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful guidance and information to help you succeed in promotion; especially those aspiring to Sergeant, I...

In my last episode, I interviewed ex-ARV-Sgt Harry Tangye and author of 'Cornish Scoop'. I'm excited to share another great scoop with you in Episode 18 of Season 2, where I had the privilege of interviewing ACC Una Jennings, an inspiring senior leader in Cheshire Police. 

Una kindly spared some time from her schedule to talk with me about various police promotion and leadership topics. It's a jam-packed half-hour! We discuss the importance of values, her experience of coaching and mentoring others, being a role model herself for women in policing, career development, and she shares plenty of insightful g...

As Episode 17 of Season 2, I share with you the audio file of my discussion with best-selling police author Harry Tangye. He kindly invited me for an interview over on his 'Frontline Chat' livestream to talk about police promotion. I'm grateful to Harry for his expert hosting and hope you enjoy. If you'd like to skip directly to the interview with me, this starts from around minute 21 of this podcast episode. A direct link to the original video recording is shown below.

https://youtu.be/0F-Ywh1K7to 

About me: As a coach/mentor supporting UK (a...

In Episode 14 of Season 2, 'Year of the Tiger', I discuss PDR season. PDRs are a controversial topic for police officers, largely owing to how police forces enforce them. But don't let those gripes distract you from their core importance to your leadership and development. This will also soon feature as part of a written blog, so keep an eye out on policepromotion.blog for more info on this subject.

About me: As a coach/mentor supporting UK (and beyond!) police promotion candidates, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful guidance and information to help you succeed in...

Welcome to number 11 of Season 2, 'Year of the Tiger'. In this episode, I discuss the Met Police CVF values, namely professionalism, courage, integrity and compassion. This may well be some very timely support for those seeking police promotion to Sergeant in the Met!

I often ask coaching clients, 'How are your values?', as an example promotion board question. It's essential to do the work understanding your own values, that of your force, then how they resonate. I talk about the importance of truly understanding what is meant by the CVF values and then go through each...

Welcome to Episode 9 of Season 2, 'Year of the Tiger'. Here I discuss success stories literally from here to Kathmandu. I spend a few minutes introducing the core themes of the video, then get into the feedback and learning points for consideration. I share success stories and insights from England & Wales forces, PSNI, and one of the many recent successful officers who contacted me about their 2022 An Garda promotion competition..

The 'competition' is an element that many officers forget about. Particularly when their experience to date has been "merely" to hit a pass mark on an exam (or...

Welcome to Episode 8 of Season 2, 'Year of the Tiger'. The ever-eloquent Simon Foy QPM has kindly provided more of his time, delayed his train, and shared his thoughts in this episode, as our paths cross once more delivering training in London. This time, the former Met Police Commander provides a detailed review, constructive critique, and discusses the implications of the recent Police Foundation 'Strategic Review of Policing' report.

This report is one I recently summarised on my YouTube channel for police officers (described by the Police Foundation themselves as "an excellent summary"). Simon emphasises the report's significance: "...

Welcome to Episode 6 of Season 2, 'Year of the Tiger'. In this episode, I discuss police promotion applications. In fact, it's a trilogy of videos originally published on my YouTube channel nearly 2 years ago now! I talk about useful structures for your promotion evidence, pitching it at the right level, adding complexity for the Inspector + ranks, ensuring you can demonstrate an outcome for your police work, story-telling, proofreading, accounting for word limits, to name just a few topics.

I hope you find this podcast useful in your police promotion ambitions. For more support on your application, see my...

Welcome to Episode 3 of Season 2, 'Year of the Tiger'. This is the audio from a lengthy video I previously published on my YouTube channel; hence why I describe it as a video. In any case, I hope you find it helpful additional content for here on my podcast. In this episode, I bring your attention to the 'golden' information held within the PEEL inspection reports, conducted by HMICS in Scotland Police and HMICFRS in England, Wales, PSNI and nationwide forces. This is something few aspiring Sergeants, Inspectors and Chief Inspectors are even aware of, but I encourage you to...

Welcome to Episode 2 of Season 2, 'Year of the Tiger'. This is a quick overview about your role in leading wellbeing. It derives from a popular video I originally published several months ago on my YouTube channel, which Spotify listeners can also now watch. For other podcasting platforms, it will present to you just the audio version. Either way, I hope you find it helpful content. It's a brief podcast, but here's how one viewer described it after watching the episode on my YouTube channel: "I’ve watched this video 3 times now. Once to listen, once to digest and think th...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of this new 'Year of the Tiger' season! To kick-start this new season off, I discuss not just passing but SMASHING your police promotion board; a different level of mentality and attitude to your ambition. I also provide tools and tips along the way.

As a coach/mentor supporting UK (and beyond!) police promotion candidates, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful guidance, tips and information to help you succeed in promotion, especially those aspiring to Sergeant, Inspector and Chief Inspector. I hope you find this podcast helpful leadership CPD, please share...

Welcome to podcast Season 1 Episode 19 (44 mins). I had the privilege of interviewing for the second time former Met Police Commander, Simon Foy QPM. While it was another recorded on the fly on my phone, I hope you'll agree his insights are again invaluable to aspiring police leaders. In this episode we discuss a range of matters again, with a focus on leading at the Inspector rank and beyond.

As a coach/mentor supporting UK police promotion candidates, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful guidance, tips and information to help you succeed in promotion, especially those aspiring...

Welcome to podcast Season 1 Episode 17. In this episode I discuss in depth the important subject of diversity, equality, and inclusion to support your police promotion and leadership CPD (50 mins). DEI is essential to familiarise yourself with if aspiring to leadership positions. In essence, it's all about 'doing the right thing'. I mention my free blog trilogy on the subject, a particularly timely read in the context of Black History Month and other recent events celebrating diversity:

https://ranksuccess.wordpress.com/2021/09/28/diversity-equality-and-inclusion-in-police-leadership-part-1 

As a coach/mentor supporting UK police promotion candidates, I aim to provide valuable a...

Welcome to podcast Season 1 Episode 15. In this episode I had the privilege of interviewing Simon Foy QPM as my first podcast guest, a former Metropolitan Police Commander with a rich and varied policing career across many ranks (59 mins). Simon kindly agreed to share some of his insights, thoughts and reflections around the subject of converting UK police leadership aspiration into promotion success.

With a 30+ year police career, including leading the Metropolitan Police Homicide Command and receiving the Queens Police Medal in 2009 for distinguished service to policing, Simon kindly agreed to share his views around the topic of...

Welcome to podcast Season 1 Episode 14, where I discuss the subject of Continuous Personal/Professional Development (45 mins). Taking ownership of your CPD and that of your teams is essential to being an eligible candidate for promotion to Sergeant, Inspector, or Chief Inspector. In fact, it is explicitly mentioned as part of the CVF behaviour, We Take Ownership. "What have you done to develop yourself or anyone else?" can be a killer question on promotion board. In this episode I answer such questions, plus provide guidance for planning your CPD, and much more.

I hope you find it useful...

Welcome to podcast Season 1 Episode 12, where I discuss the greasy pole of UK police promotion (28 mins). Making a commitment to yourself to prepare effectively for promotion to Sergeant, Inspector, or Chief Inspector is key to navigating this greasy pole. Whatever your force promotion process today, the depth and breadth of your preparation will determine whether or not you proceed. In this short episode I discuss some of the promotion processes, complaints, challenges, surprises and upsets you may face along the way.

I hope you find it useful as food for thought when preparing for UK promotion across...

Welcome to podcast Season 1 Episode 8, covering the subject of coaching (49 mins). Coaching and mentoring go hand in hand and are important leadership concepts to inform your police promotion preparation to Sergeant, Inspector, or Chief Inspector. It is essential to police leadership CPD but also to the Competency & Values Framework behaviour, 'We are emotionally aware'. For example, consider the promotion board question, "What have you done to develop yourself or anyone else in the last 12 months?" Note also my recently-published SWOT analysis template can be used as a CPD self-coaching tool. These concepts are of course all included in my...

Welcome to podcast Season 1 Episode 5, with food for thought on police promotion brought to you from my little boat.

In previous episodes, I've covered the Competency & Values Framework (CVF) UK force promotion framework, decision making, and the role of Sergeant. In this episode, I discuss the importance of feedback. As a police leader, you will need to understand the art of giving and receiving feedback, important for your own and others' CPD. As I've blogged before in the link below, nobody likes a sh** sandwich, so this also gives some alternative options and food for thought.

Welcome to podcast Season 1 Episode 2, brought to you from my little boat moored in Plymouth (excuse the slight whistling wind on the rigging of nearby boats in the background at the start!). This is a bonus episode to what will be a more bi-weekly schedule in future. In the previous episode (1.1), I started with a general discussion for those officers thinking about going for promotion to Sergeant, Inspector or Chief Inspector. In this episode, I expand more on the Competency & Values Framework (CVF) used to assess officers across all UK force promotion processes. The CVF can seem unfamiliar and...

This is my inaugural podcast. I thought it good to start at the point where officers are thinking about going for promotion to Sergeant, Inspector or Chief Inspector. In this episode, I discuss behavioural frameworks (CVF), force promotion processes, the importance of preparing ahead, mindset, and avoiding common simple mistakes officers often make.

The aim of this podcast is to support, challenge and respectfully provoke your thinking around your decision to seek a formal police leadership role. I hope you enjoy this police leadership and promotion content to aid your CPD, particularly when aspiring to the next...