Sophie is a trainee police officer, studying a BA (Honours) Professional Policing Practice degree apprenticeship.

"You need passion, willingness to learn and confidence in yourself and your abilities."

Sophie started her police constable degree apprenticeship (PCDA) in March. Before starting her degree, she was a theatre school graduate, working in TV and film alongside a team leader position at a supermarket.

'I wanted to join the force as I love being on my feet and knowing that I'm making a difference in people's lives. I also like the opportunity to progress, which I know there is a lot of within the Police.

'My whole application process took just over a year to complete. Due to Covid involved lots of online assessments, video recordings, scenario-based questions, and basic Maths and English. It then moved onto a face-to-face interview as well as a medical and fitness test. The application process is done in stages, so you have to pass one stage to move onto the next. As long as you take your time, it's not as difficult as it may initially seem. 

'I like that there's the opportunity to get your degree whilst attending placements. You have the chance to experience different areas within policing. This allows you to see which area you'd be happiest in and where your skills would be most valued. The majority of the trainers come from a policing background which helps to put things into perspective and allows us to ask questions about what it's like to be a police officer.

'I like how you become an official police officer within your first week of starting. It starts to sink in what you will be doing over the next 3 years and beyond from that point onwards.

'The support and encouragement available to students is tailored to each individual. For me, that's one of the most important aspects of the job as it makes you feel important, proud to be who you are, and gives you the confidence you need to pursue a career in the force.

'There's a lot to learn in preparation for the job. But, you find that most of what you learn for the job is also relevant for your degree work. You get two 10-week placements and one 5-week placement within your first year of study. This allows you to put your learning into practice and get a feel for the job. The placements are all in different areas of policing, too, which helps you get a feel for where you may be best suited.

'There's plenty of support available from both South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield Hallam University. Both lecturers and trainers are good at recognising where extra support is needed. You can guarantee you will get that support. You don't have to be the most academic person to join the Police Force. You need passion, willingness to learn and confidence in yourself and your abilities.

'Getting onto the course has to be my biggest achievement so far. Out of the thousands of people that applied, I feel proud to be where I am now and highly grateful for the opportunity. I'm most looking forward to learning about the different areas within Policing, getting stuck in, and progressing.

'My advice to anyone thinking of applying would be - do it! If you're willing to put your all into a job, then the rewards will follow. The support, encouragement and opportunities are all there for you. You've got nothing to lose. Policing is a career for life and a chance I'll never regret taking.'