Meet Your Future: National Careers Week 2023

Careers in the Public Sector

Career Pathways with Greater Manchester Police

National Careers Week in 2023 was all about careers in the public sector. In these Meet Your Future sessions, we met people working in the public sector to ask them all about what it’s like working in their organisations. These conversations give you insights into whether these roles may be right for you. Have a read of the article or watch the video below to learn more!

In this session, we spoke to Amanda Mosley, a member of the Apprenticeship Coordination Team at Greater Manchester Police (GMP). She’s an expert in all things to do with becoming a police officer or working for GMP.

In this article, Amanda reveals the many different kinds of roles on offer at GMP. She also introduces the apprenticeship pathways you could use to join the organisation and become a police officer.

Read to get all the info and discover how you could start your career with GMP.

Introduction to Greater Manchester Police

Greater Manchester Police is the third largest police force in the country. It covers about 500 square miles across Greater Manchester and serves a population of about 2.7 million people. GMP cover all 10 districts as well as Manchester airport, so there’s a massive area to cover.

Such a large and varied force means there are a lot of different career opportunities and pathways on offer for people looking to join the police. GMP have support functions like their own force headquarters and training school. And, there are lots of roles in HR, finance, IT and many other areas.

The different careers and jobs on offer with GMP

As Amanda explains in the video, there are a huge range of options for careers within GMP. The obvious major role is to be a police officer. This is the biggest role at GMP, with just less than 8000 police officers serving the communities across GM.

However, there are lots more roles at the GMP. There are just under 5000 police staff who work within GM, and they cover a huge range of different areas. This includes HR, IT, fleets and equipment, training, call handling, detention officers, police community support officers, and investigators – so there are tons of options!

As well as these staff roles, there are also volunteer roles at GMP that you could do if you think a career in the police might be for you and want to give it a try. Police support volunteer roles are available in a wide range of roles including scam busters, volunteering at museums, and lots more.

There are also volunteer special constables at GMP. These are warranted officers, so they receive full training but are working on a voluntary basis. You need to be 18 to pursue this as you become a full police officer. As Amanda says, it’s a great way to try out being a police officer to see if it’s something you enjoy.

Careers tip: GMP have a cadet programme which is open to anybody between the ages of 13 and 18. These cadets are based in lots of areas across GM and are a great way to get started with a career in policing. Find out more on the GMP website.

Apprenticeship pathways with GMP

After outlining the huge range of opportunities available at GMP, Amanda moves on to talk about the apprenticeship pathways that are on offer. These are great ways to join the police and get paid while you qualify.

There are two routes. One is a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship, and the other is the Police Constable degree apprenticeship.

Level 3 business administration

Your option to join GMP when you leave school is a business administration level 3 apprenticeship. Anyone in year 11 can apply for this course. As part of the apprenticeship, you’ll get on the job training from Monday to Friday. You don’t attend college as GMP do all the training in house. At the end of the 15 month programme, you’ll achieve a level 3 apprenticeship in business administration.

There’s a competitive salary of just under £14,000 per year, and this increases to just over £20,000 when you reach the 12 month point of the apprenticeship. And, at the end of your apprenticeship, there’s the opportunity to apply for internal vacancies and to progress into a police staff or police officer role. Amanda says that lots of apprentices move into roles like call handlers, radio operators, customs or detention officers, police community support officers, as well as admin roles across GMP.

In the video, Amanda talks about which key skills are important if you’re thinking about applying for this apprenticeship. She says that GMP are mostly looking for potential, but if you’re able to demonstrate some of these skills that will be a big plus:

• A professional telephone manner
• Good standard of written work and accuracy
• Able to use IT systems like Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Good customer service skills
• Organisation and prioritisation
• Working to deadlines

The apprenticeship is a development scheme, so don’t worry if you think you don’t have these skills. Throughout the course, you’ll be working on gaining and developing them.

Careers tip: In the video above, Amanda talks about the recruitment process. She reminds you to think about you can demonstrate your skills through school but also to remember that you can include examples from outside of school as well. If you’ve done voluntary work or played as part of a football team you can demonstrate your teamwork skills, for example.

Watch the full video above for more details on the recruitment process for the level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship with GMP.

Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship

GMP also offer a Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship. You could do this after college or sixth form, or even after the level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship. You need to be at least 17 to apply for this apprenticeship so you can’t do it straight from school. The apprenticeship is a three year programme in partnership with Salford University, and at the end of the three years you’ll achieve a degree – without having to pay tuition fees! You’ll also be employed as a police officer throughout so you’re earning a salary while you get a qualification. And, you’ll get a job at the end as a police officer.

To join the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship, you’ll need English and Maths at grade 4 or higher.

Careers tip: In the video, Amanda talks about what work experience is a good idea if you’re thinking about joining the police in the future. She says that any work experience where you’re dealing with members of the public is really important and will be great experience.

Find out more about careers with Greater Manchester Police by watching the full video above or by heading to their careers website. And, don’t forget to check out the GMACS blog for more videos and blogs from our Meet Your Future National Careers Week video series.