Force Contact apprentice Review
at West Midlands Police
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Customer Service
Birmingham
Review Submitted: March 2025
Overall Rating
2.7 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
2.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
2.4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
This role involves taking 999 calls and 101 calls for the members of the public
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
1/5
I enjoy the call taking part of my apprenticeship but I feel the apprenticeship was not supportive of this and the people working in the training academy supported me better than the people in charge of my apprenticeship.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Yes I have learnt how to take 999 calls and 101 calls, I have learnt how to have better communication skills and how to deal with difficult situations and how to cope when under pressure
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
1/5
The call taking alone I cannot fault as it is organised and we have something to do all the time, but the coursework for the apprenticeship was not organised and all course work was dropped to myself last minute and the expectations kept changing and I did not know what to do with my coursework and felt there was no support.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
My employer is West Midlands Police and I am based at the training academy and the support I have received from the academy is outstanding, the supervisors and mentors have supported me through this journey and have been nothing but amazing to help me with my apprenticeship despite them knowing little about it.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
1/5
Since starting my apprenticeship I feel I have received no support from my apprenticeship manager, I have not seen much of them and when questions are raised I feel the answer is not said in confidence, I think everything has been left until the last minute and was not provided with the correct tools or revision to complete my course work and I feel the force contact apprenticeship has been pushed aside while other apprenticeships that are taking place within the force get all the praise and spot light when we work just as hard but the support has not been there.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
I did get exposure to different departments of force contact which gave me more knowledge which had an positive impact on my call taking.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
The force has football teams and day events but i myself do not take part in them
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend West Midlands Police to a friend?
Yes
Why?
West Midlands Police is an amazing force to work for and there is plenty of opportunity's within the force and there are so many benefits within the force. I would not recommend the apprenticeship scheme as me myself have not had a good experience but to work for the force as a whole is good and I am happy to be working for West Midlands Police
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to West Midlands Police?
To be confident and open minded, you will face struggles along the way but don't let that put you down for doing something you enjoy or excelling in something you feel passionate for
