Staffordshire University, working together with its Regional Police partnership, has been revealed as a national finalist in prestigious awards.
Recent graduates from the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
Student officer success is at the heart of everything we do as a partnership and we have a shared ethos of building knowledge, skills and behaviours in our apprentices to meet the evolving demands of the job and the longer-term vision for UK policing.
Now in their sixth year, FE Week and AELP Apprenticeships Awards 2023 recognise the teams and organisations that make excellent apprenticeships happen and a record 375 entries were received this year.
Staffordshire University is one of two finalists in the category Protective Services Apprenticeships Provider of the Year for its work with four regional police forces on the delivery of the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA). Currently more than 1,700 student officers are enrolled on the PCDA and more than 80 have now celebrated their graduation.
Nick Howe, Director of the Institute of Policing at Staffordshire University, said: “Student officer success is at the heart of everything we do as a partnership and we have a shared ethos of building knowledge, skills and behaviours in our apprentices to meet the evolving demands of the job and the longer-term vision for UK policing.
“Our progressive approach has already been recognised by the National Police Chief Council as Educational Partnership of the Year and it’s fantastic to have made it through the finals of these prestigious awards.”
Maighread Hegarty, Associate Dean for Apprenticeships, added: “It is a source of pride that we’re currently the leading provider of police apprenticeships in the country and, importantly, that we have been able to work at pace with our police partners to transform and enhance our delivery model to better suit the needs of our apprentices.”
“Our trailblazing work in this area is underpinned by our ‘good’ Ofsted which recognised the University for working closely with employers and other stakeholders to shape the curriculum and address skills gaps.”
As national finalists, Staffordshire University will be invited to attend a celebratory reception at the Houses of Parliament to be hosted by the Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education.
Overall winners will be announced at a special gala dinner in Birmingham ICC in March as part of the Annual Apprenticeship Conference.