From Apprentice to Detective: A Journey Through Thames Valley Police

From apprentice to Detective Constable, Grace’s journey with Thames Valley Police (TVP) showcases the incredible opportunities within policing. Starting in 2017 with Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE), she has grown through hands-on experiences, a degree apprenticeship, and frontline roles. Her story highlights the rewards of hard work and seizing every opportunity.

How long have you been with TVP, and how did your journey start?

I’ve worked for TVP for around 7 and ½ years, having started my career as an Administrative Support Assistant apprentice with CTPSE in 2017. Whilst working in this role, I was encouraged to apply for a ride-along with Incident & Crime response officers to get a first-hand view of frontline policing. I went on two ride alongs with Reading response officers, which was a very eye-opening experience. At that point I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a police officer in the long term, so one of the officers encouraged me to look into becoming a Special Constable. I successfully applied to become a Special Constable and attested in March 2019. For many years, I volunteered as a Special alongside my full-time civilian role with CTPSE, before I finally decided to apply to become a police officer.

In June 2021, I attested as a Police Constable under the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) Entry Route. I completed the degree alongside my full-time role in Incident & Crime Response (ICR) in both Reading and Bicester LPAs (Local Policing Areas). Three years on, I graduated from this scheme with First Class Honours in Professional Policing Practice. In November 2024, I moved into my current position, which is a Detective Constable role under the Milton Keynes Priority Crime Team.

What inspired you to pursue an apprenticeship with TVP?

I was particularly interested in the opportunity to balance education alongside my full-time job. I have always wanted to gain a degree but equally wanted to work as soon as I left full-time education. The degree apprenticeship offered the perfect opportunity to do both.

Can you share a memorable moment or achievement during your apprenticeship?

I particularly enjoyed writing my dissertation as I was able to write about a topic I was passionate about and equally could draw upon my first-hand experiences in policing to inform my writing. I am particularly proud of this piece of work.

How has your mentor or support system contributed to your professional growth?

I was greatly supported by my direct line manager (Sergeant), who wanted to ensure I had the best opportunity to perform well in my degree alongside my response policing role. I was also supported by my dissertation supervisor, who provided incredibly useful guidance and feedback regarding my work during the writing of my dissertation.

What challenges did you encounter during your apprenticeship, and what did you learn from them?

The biggest challenge in completing the degree apprenticeship was balancing the role of being a response officer alongside completing the degree. As the course itself was in its early phases at the point I was completing the degree apprenticeship, I worked alongside TVP and the university to resolve some of these issues and ensure that the course was achievable for officers to complete alongside a full-time role in policing.

Looking back, what would you have done differently during your apprenticeship?

Looking back, I may have paced my work differently and started to think and plan my assignments earlier on, so that I wasn’t as rushed as the deadlines began to loom. I also would have consulted my dissertation supervisor as early as possible, as they can really help with early planning for the dissertation.

What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship at TVP?

Balancing education with full-time work is challenging, however, if you want and are willing to work hard and persist with your goals, you will be incredibly proud of your achievements and you will have an excellent foundation for your future career.

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If you’re ready to make a difference and be part of a rewarding career that challenges and inspires you every day, why not join us as a police officer?

To find out more about our Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) – including the realities of working on a response, initial training, and applying to become a Police Officer please visit our Police Officer page.