Member Article

Constabulary and College join forces in training Apprentices

A successful four-year partnership between Derwentside College and Durham Constabulary has led to the training of 300 of the Constabulary’s staff in a wide range of courses including, Business Administration, Customer Service, Information Technology, Team Leading and Management.

Police officers and support staff are amongst those that have benefited from this successful partnership, with many of the staff having progressed to the next level in order to provide the best quality of service to the communities they serve. These include: Bishop Auckland, Consett, Darlington, Durham, Peterlee and Stanley.

Two-years ago, the Constabulary embarked on a significant new venture with the College, in offering 30 young people the opportunity of a job via studying an Apprenticeship. Since this time, 90% have gone on to secure permanent jobs with the Constabulary. In addition to this, Durham Constabulary staff have also proven to be ‘at the top of their game’ - having been recognised for their commitment and excellence over the last four years at the College’s Annual Achievement Awards Ceremony.

Rebecca Ross is one such example, having received an award for Excellence in the Leadership and Management Higher Apprenticeship. Rebecca, soon-to-be a Team Supervisor said: “My Apprenticeship enabled me to use my skills in new ways and develop them further. I now have a new role and my Apprenticeship has equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to perform to the best of my ability. I would say to anyone thinking of doing an Apprenticeship that they should ‘just do it’ as it opens up a whole new world of opportunities”.

Susan Errington, Executive Director of Business Development at Derwentside College, said: “We are delighted that this strategic partnership with Durham Constabulary provides their staff with the qualifications and experience they need. Apprenticeships are at the forefront of employment routes and the College is leading the way in developing partnerships with key organisations in the region to ensure our learners have access to outstanding opportunities to secure employment and maximise their career potential”.

Mike Barton, Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary, said: “We are extremely impressed and proud of our staff, who have engaged with Apprenticeship opportunities and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Apprenticeships to other employers. Derwentside College has been instrumental in enabling our staff to access the best opportunities to enhance their careers”.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Derwentside College is a leading provider of Apprenticeships and offers an impressive learning environment for a wide range of vocational courses for young people, as well as adults returning to education. It has excellent success rates and attracts students from a wide geographic area from Berwick in the North, to Leeds in the South, South Shields in the East and Carlisle in the West.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Michelle Dale .