How apprenticeships are helping to turbocharge career progression in the emergency services

An apprenticeship in the emergency services can be transformational for those that undertake them. Not only does it provide a platform to a career in a true vocation, more often than not an apprenticeship sets individuals on course for a lifelong love of learning, turbocharging their career progression.

Sussex Police’s Pieter Classens is one of countless apprentices in the ambulance service, fire and rescue and policing who can attest to the power of the apprenticeship experience and its capacity to unlock a love of vocational learning.

Still relatively early on in his career, Pieter’s apprenticeship remains fresh in the memory. Having completed his Police Community Support Officer apprenticeship in January 2024, he is now well on his way to becoming a constable via the Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) route.

“My PCSO apprenticeship experience was invaluable,” Pieter said. Interacting with the public and solving local issues,” were tremendously valuable experiences as a PCSO that are now helping Pieter on his way to becoming a police constable, he continued.

In fire and rescue, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Scott Goodman had a similar experience. Scott completed his Operational Firefighter apprenticeship in 2018 and feels strongly that it was this formative experience which set him on course to progress through the ranks to become Watch Commander.

“As an apprentice I learnt to understand how important good communication is during high pressure situations. This is something I take forward today as a Watch Commander.”

Scott Goodman.

Ex-apprentice Neil Vint, also a Watch Commander (but at Essex County Fire and Rescue), is similarly effusive about his experiences and still uses many of the skills he learnt early on as an apprentice in his present role at Harlow station.

“The apprenticeship continues to play a role in the job that I have today. One of the most important lessons that I learnt during the apprenticeship was to look outside of my own role and realise the impact that we have as part of the wider service. This has helped both members of the public and businesses get the help they need in the right places.”

Neil Vint.

Neil’s colleague Dan Hare, a Crew Manager at Essex County Fire and Rescue, said that he valued the on the job learning aspect of his apprenticeship and explained how this continues to support his vocational development.

“I prefer this style of learning because I am a practical, hands-on person and the apprenticeship has supported and solidified my basic knowledge. I feel the apprenticeship scheme is a great way of learning on the job, to fully appreciate and gain confidence and develop your skills. The fire service requires continuous learning and development in order to make change in practice or adapt current methods.”

Dan Hare.

Kit Salt is Head of Assessment at SFJ Awards and an expert in apprenticeships in the protective services sector. Having worked in apprenticeships for the last two decades, she has supported hundreds of apprentices over the years who cite their apprenticeship as a key factor enabling them to progress in their careers.

“Apprenticeships are a vital way to support individuals to gain the skills required to join public sector workforces, such as the police and fire service,” she said.

“The foundational skills that apprentices develop in this process stay with them well into the future and help form the basis of what is often a lifelong career. An apprenticeship is therefore a solid investment, on part of the individual and employers, in the future potential of the workforce.”

Feeling inspired this National Apprenticeship Week? SFJ Awards has lots of stories and insights from past and current emergency services apprentices and employers, giving you the inside scoop on all things apprenticeships. To find out more, click here.

To read similar articles, check out our People and skills channel.