Met welcomes apprentices
Image courtesy Met Police
The UK’s biggest police service offers a three-year apprenticeship programme, called the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), to people who do not have a degree.
It allows those interested to join as an officer with a starting salary of £36,775, inclusive of benefits, while working towards a fully funded degree in Professional Policing Practice.
After an initial training period, officers will spend time on the frontline learning first-hand from experienced officers and putting the theory they have learnt into practice, as well as spending time at one of four partner universities. Officers can go on to pursue one of many specialist roles, including mounted branch, authorised firearms officer, or detective.
Over 2,000 officers have joined the Met’s apprenticeship programme since it launched in January 2021 – benefitting from a fully-funded degree while being paid and making a real difference to the safety of London’s communities.
PC Thompson is in her third and final year of the PCDA route – previously working as a restaurant manager, she decided to join the Met initially as a volunteer police officer before joining full-time.
PC Courtney Thompson said: “I knew I wanted a degree and I knew I enjoyed being a police officer – with the apprenticeship route I was able to achieve both. With policing, I found a role that uses a variety of my existing skills and interests. The apprenticeship also offers so much opportunity for my future career.”
PC Griffiths is now over half way through the apprenticeship route, and was previously delivering training to customer services representatives to help develop their communication skills. Already he has experienced a range of roles, from neighbourhood policing to response, and is currently working in the safeguarding unit.
PC Akeem Griffiths said: “The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship entry route was a no brainer for me – the fact that you can work towards a fully-funded degree while being paid a full salary at the same time. I’d wanted to be a police officer in London from a young age, I just wasn’t sure how to get to that point.
“For me, being a police officer is all about giving back to the community, being there for members of the public and kind of building a bridge between them and the police.
“Even when you’re in your probation period on the apprenticeship there are so many opportunities, and the number skills I've developed so far is unbelievable. I’ve completed my level two public order training and I've got my Taser course coming up. If you’re ambitious and put yourself forward the opportunities are endless.”
Tom Naughton, the Met’s Head of Initial Recruit Training, said: “The Met’s apprenticeship programme is already a great success with many officers graduating this year.
“Officers have produced really impressive research as part of their degrees, paralleled with great operational work, working alongside communities to keep Londoners safe.
“Those on the apprenticeship come from a range of professional and personal backgrounds. They bring a diversity of experience that is crucial for the Met to delivering our A New Met for London plan to build more trust with our communities, drive down crime and pursue high standards.
“I’d encourage anyone considering becoming a police officer to consider the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship.”
The Met is encouraging more people to follow in Courtney and Akeem’s footsteps by applying to become a police officer this National Apprenticeship Week (Monday 5th February to Sunday 11th February).
Ranging from ages 18 to 55, officers on the PCDA entry route are bringing a wide range of life experience, community knowledge and skills to the role, and already making a difference in London.
To find out more on different ways you can join the Met and to apply, visit met.police.uk/careers.
