DCG Success Stories

Joining the police was an obvious career choice for police degree apprentice and former Derby College Group student Harry Sherwin.

Harry, 19, took the Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Uniformed Protective Services and is now half-way through the second year of a much sought after three-year degree apprenticeship with the Derbyshire force.

He said: “I’ve always wanted to go into the police. We’re a public services family – most of my family are in nursing or the fire service – so coming to Broomfield Hall to do the level 3 was a logical next step for me.

“I liked that the course wasn’t all theory. A lot of what we learned we put into practice.

“I particularly enjoyed the command and control aspects and learning about the law as it relates to policing.”

Harry is also pleased to have secured his apprenticeship; with an acceptance rate of just 0.2% the competition to get a place was exceptionally tough.

He is now with the Clay Cross-based response team covering North East Derbyshire. And, as a big fan of reality police traffic shows, he was excited to appear in one of the programmes himself.

He said: “I was in an episode of Channel 5’s Traffic Cops after our team was asked to provide back up to a roadside incident involving a lorry and stolen car.

“It was great. I’ve always watched those shows. My parents were very proud! I love the comradery on the force. We’re such a tight knit group.

“Everything I’ve learned at college I’m finding so beneficial day to day. For example, when I joined the force I already knew how to use a radio as we’d covered it on my level 3.

“I like coming to work every day and not knowing what I’ll be asked to do. It could be anything from filing a report for the Crown Prosecution Service to helping track down a stolen car.”