Greater Manchester Police celebrates National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week is an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships and runs from 6-10 February 2023. Apprenticeships are an opportunity to get hands-on training and put skills into practice with the potential to progress into a career at Greater Manchester Police.

Greater Manchester Police is celebrating its apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

GMP has almost 600 apprentices working across the force including both officers and staff.

Around 180 of these are business administration and customer service apprentices with another 397 trainee officers, with ages ranging from 16 to people in their 50s, although student officers have to be aged 18 or above.

Amanda Mosley, of GMP’s Apprenticeship Co-ordination Team, said: “Our business administration and customer service apprentices perform a vital role within GMP, providing excellent customer service and administrative support to the public, GMP colleagues and partners.

“It is also a great opportunity for an exciting new career. We take on people of all ages, from school leavers to people in their 30s and 40s – during the last intake we took on an apprentice in her 50s.

“Full training will be provided together with invaluable work experience – in return we expect people who are motivated, committed and flexible.

“Very often apprentices move into full-time operational roles, including officers, PCSOs and call handlers.

“Joining GMP as an apprentice gives someone the perfect opportunity to get an insight of the force and what skills are needed to make it a full-time career.”

‘This is a great opportunity for an exciting new career’ - Amanda Mosley, of GMP’s Apprenticeship Co-ordination Team

While the business administration training is delivered externally, the customer service apprenticeships are delivered within GMP and are on a permanent contract.

The business administration and customer service apprentices will study for either a Level 3 Business Administration or Level 2 Customer Service apprenticeship over 14 or 15 months. Since its launch in 2013, GMP has recruited more than 1,000 police staff apprentices.

In a couple of months, GMP will also be managing the training as well as recruiting its business and customer service apprentices.

Ellen Baker, GMP’s Apprenticeship Manager, said: “In March 2022, GMP were successful in gaining approval as an Employer Provider on the Register of Training Providers. This status allows GMP to deliver approved Apprenticeship Standards directly to its own employees acting as both the training provider and employer. 

“In March this year we are also taking over the provision of the Business Administration Apprenticeship, which is a really exciting opportunity for GMP.”

There are also two apprentices working in GMP’s vehicle workshops

Mark Owen, Head of Fleet Shared Service & Logistics at GMP, said: “We have four apprentices – two are the force business administration apprentices, one is a vehicle technician and the fourth is a vehicle bodywork technician. 

“Both of the apprentices on the vehicle-based roles attend Tameside college once a week.”

Facts and figures

• GMP has 574 apprentices across the force - 177 staff, 397 student officers
• Around 120 police staff apprentices are recruited each year
• Over 1,000 police staff apprentices have been recruited since 2013