About the Coastguard & RNLI

The coastguard work to prevent the loss of life on the coast and at sea, they provide a 24-hour maritime search and rescue service around the UK coast and international search and rescue through HM Coastguard and comprise of the coastguard rescue team, shore-based teams with the capability to carry out water rescue, mud rescue, cliff rescue, and comprehensive searches.

They are a team of 1050 staff and 3,500 volunteers with headquarters in Southampton and co-ordination centres around the UK.

If you are interested in working for the UK coastguard, a great way to start would be to become a coastguard rescue officer volunteer and then apply for a paid position when vacancies are advertised.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), works in partnership with the coastguard and other emergency services but are an independent charity that rely on volunteers and donations.  

There are a varied range of opportunities within the RNLI including paid positions and many volunteering roles from being a member of the crew to face-to-face fundraising.  The RNLI also offer an apprenticeship programme within their engineering, legal, marketing and IT teams. Take a look at the RNLI recruitment section of their website to find out more about their vacancies, volunteering opportunities and apprenticeships.

The Coastguard and RNLI teams operate along the Norfolk and Suffolk coast with lifeguards operating on beaches from May to September and lifeboat stations at Hunstanton, Wells, Sheringham, Cromer, Happisburgh, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Southwold and Aldeburgh.