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Writer

Writer

On board you’ll be responsible for Human Resources (HR), handling legal matters and financial administration.

HRAdminLogisticsApprenticeships
  • £25,200 - £62,073
  • No qualifications
  • Surface Fleet
  • Logistics
  • Rating level

At a glance

This job sits within the Logistics & Personnel Profession and is a Logistics & Personnel Rating role. As a Writer, you’re in charge of Human Resources (HR), handling legal matters, financial admin, and looking after the welfare of your crewmates. Travel the world in this unique job – in a unique environment.

£25,200

What you will get paid from day one

£62,073

Earn over this amount as your career progresses

NVQs

Get qualifications paid for

6 weeks

Of paid holiday every year

Travel

All around the world

Zero

Qualifications needed
A Royal Navy Writer Logistician chatting
My job is to make sure everyone on board is looked after and has the support they need. Working behind the scenes to keep the ship moving is really rewarding – it’s not like any HR career I’d get at home.

Steph

Writer, Logistics & Personnel Rating

Role details

What you’ll do

The smooth running of a ship is about much more than on-point kit. Our people’s welfare needs to run smoothly, too. As a Writer, you’re in charge of Human Resources (HR), handling legal matters, financial admin, and looking after the welfare of your crewmates. Whether you’re advising your Captain about promotions or organising your crewmates’ pay, it’s up to you to make things happen. It’s a unique job in a unique environment, and a great opportunity to discover what makes us tick – and how we keep ticking, all over the world.

Your role

  • Become an invaluable part of the behind-the-scenes team who keep the ship’s company running smoothly
  • Learn all the ins and outs of running an extremely tight HR operation, no matter where you are in the world – and regardless of the pressures of the operation you’re deployed on
  • Stay up to date with industry best practice, gaining recognised HR qualifications including an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Business and Administration
  • Learn additional skills as an Incident Board Operator, where it’ll be your responsibility to pass vital information to Damage Control teams fighting fires and floods

Pay & benefits

  • A starting salary of at least £25,200
  • Potential earnings of over £62,073 as your career progresses
  • An excellent pension scheme
  • Six weeks of paid holiday every year
  • Free medical and dental care

Skills for life

Qualifications you‘ll gain

  • Study for GCSEs, A-Levels, NVQs or a degree
  • Gain specialist vocational qualifications as your career progresses, like a Business Administrator Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard

Skills you‘ll develop

  • The excellent organisational skills needed for a seamless HR operation, valued by employers all over the world
  • A pin-sharp eye for detail, collaborative teamwork, professionalism and problem-solving, and the ability to communicate at all levels

Eligibility

  • You need to be aged 16 to 39 (You can start your application from 15 years and 9 months old however you must be at least 16 years old on day of entry to basic training)
  • No qualifications are required for this role
  • You must be a United Kingdom national, or Commonwealth citizen, or Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)

Skills & interests

  • A keen interest in HR, and its importance within the Royal Navy
  • A genuine people person, who can be proactive and reactive in a broad variety of personal and professional situations
  • A problem-solver, with a common sense approach, who can work well as part of a team
  • A real sense of adventure, with a high level of physical and mental fitness

Joining process

From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.

Step 1

Submit an application

Once you’ve registered your interest in a Profession, and have satisfied some basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form.

Step 2

Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension. You will need to attempt all sections of the DAA.

To help you prepare, you can practise the DAA.

Practise the DAA
Step 3

Interview

A formal Selection Interview to confirm suitability of your chosen Profession followed by discussion of your preferred roles that are available within that Profession, including Submarine Service It will also cover the initial stages of the Security application. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform.

Step 4

Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)

This is a four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, which includes assessments of your Fitness and your Medical eligibility, it is a pass or fail course.

Step 5

Start training

Once you’ve passed all eligibility criteria, including a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh to commence your initial training. Allocation to a specific role within your chosen profession will occur during the latter part of initial training.

Career progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.
Phase one training
10 weeks at HMS Raleigh, learning basic military skills
Phase two training
Develop your professional skills, prepare for working life
First year
Put skills into practice on a shore base, complete task book
First promotion – Leading Hand
Leading Rates Command Course, learn about line management
Second promotion – Petty Officer
Become an office manager, overseeing all pay and admin

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