UCLan launches first police apprenticeship scheme

The programme has been designed in conjunction with the College of Policing as part of the new Policing Education Qualifications Framework, which forms part of the National Policing Vision 2025.

Working with Lancashire Constabulary, the University will deliver the academic content of the apprenticeship at its campus in Preston for its three year duration. This will lead to a graduation at the university for the students and the attainment of Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Professional Policing Practice, Simultaneously, they will fully qualify as police officers.

The launch of the new apprenticeship will give student officers the chance to combine academic study with their role as a police officer.

Each of the student officers will begin a 10 week in class programme as part of the new Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship, managed by UCLan and a proportion of it based at the university in Preston. The PCDA programme requires the student police officers to work on the streets of Lancashire.

The PCDA degree will be the first of its kind to be available in Lancashire and will initially have an intake of 35 students.

Each of the new PCDA students were sworn in officially through a special attestation ceremony held at Lancashire Police headquarters at Hutton, near Preston. Among those attending the ceremony were Lancashire Police Chief Constable Andy Rhodes and Professor Ian Allison Executive Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology at UCLan.

Professor Ian Allison said: “It’s fantastic to have been selected by Lancashire Constabulary to deliver degree apprenticeships as part of the Police Education Qualifications Framework.

“The development of this innovative degree apprenticeship in the Police Service, has involved a strong collaboration between Lancashire Constabulary, UCLan and the College of Policing in its governance role as the professional body for the service.

"This has ensured accreditation and quality in both design and delivery and is an exciting time for all involved in the move towards greater professionalisation of the service.”

Lancashire Constabulary’s Chief Constable Andy Rhodes said: “The intake is the first ever degree apprenticeship group so I took the opportunity to talk to many of the officers and their relatives after the attestation ceremony.

"The energy and commitment of our new colleagues is matched only by their obvious quality with many of them having spent several years trying to join Lancashire Constabulary.

.“Our recruitment plan will hopefully see many more recruits joining us over the next 18 months.”

Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: "Police officers come from all walks of life and work around the clock to keep people safe. Investing in our officers will always be a top priority and this new recruiting process is a good opportunity to gain hands on operational policing experience, whilst at the same time obtaining valuable academic qualifications to equip officers with the skills necessary to manage the increasing demands of modern policing."