Met encourages people to sign up during National Apprenticeship Week

During National Apprenticeship Week (5-11 February), the Metropolitan Police is calling on people to join as a police officer.

The Met offers a three-year apprenticeship programme, called the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), to people who do not have a degree. The route allows people 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 go on to spend time on the frontline, learning from experienced officers and putting the theory they have learnt into practice.  They will also spend time at one of four partner universities.

Officers can then go on to pursue a specialist role, such as mounted branch, authorised firearms officer, or detective.

Since it launched in January 2021, more than 2,000 officers have joined the Met’s apprenticeship programme.

PC Thompson is in her third and final year of the PCDA route, she 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, he 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.”

Image by Fungai Tichawangana from Pixabay