Hear about our apprenticeships
Vicky, Head of Professions and Apprenticeships
Vicky, Head of Professions and Apprenticeships
'Apprenticeships support your progression - whether you’re at the start of your career looking to develop your knowledge, or want to upskill and boost your performance further. You transfer the skills you gain and apply them within the workplace.'
Hi Vicky, can you start by talking about your role as Head of Professions and Apprenticeships?
My role is incredibly varied, challenging and rewarding. I provide expert advice on apprenticeships with a focus on raising awareness and increasing participation with our apprenticeships. I collaborate with colleagues across the organisation to ensure each profession has a clear development plan – enhancing opportunities for focused learning, succession planning and talent development.
We have 10 different professions represented at the Crown Prosecution Service – commercial, communications, digital data and technology, estates, finance, human resources, legal, operational delivery, policy, and security and information assurance. My aim is to understand the business needs of each our professions, and how apprenticeships can be used to achieve impactful service delivery.
What apprenticeships do we have on offer at the Crown Prosecution Service?
We offer a variety of apprenticeships including operational delivery, customer service, human resources, finance, policy, project management and legal - including paralegal and solicitor apprentice roles. We plan to expand our programmes to include digital apprenticeships soon.
How often do apprenticeship opportunities come up?
We advertise apprenticeship opportunities throughout the year - you can register for job alerts on Civil Service Jobs and our careers website. We also offer internal apprenticeships to support colleagues with development and career progression.
How is time split between an apprenticeship and a day job?
As an apprentice, you spend at least six hours a week - if you’re doing a 30 hour or more working week - doing off-the-job training. This might be study and research, workshops, writing assignments, shadowing and mentoring or working on projects outside of the normal job role. You spend the rest of your time gaining hands-on experience of the role, doing the same work as non-apprentice colleagues at the same grade.
What would someone gain from doing an apprenticeship at the Crown Prosecution Service?
Apprenticeships play a crucial role investing in, developing, and supporting the growth of our people. You build essential skills and knowledge through first-hand experience, whilst working towards a recognised qualification. Our people are our most valuable asset, and apprenticeships are instrumental in nurturing their talent – allowing us to develop and enhance skills across the organisation.
How can people progress after completing their apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships support your progression - whether you’re at the start of your career looking to develop your knowledge, or want to upskill and boost your performance further. You can transfer the skills you gain and apply them within the workplace to aid your progression. We offer qualifications at intermediate, advanced, and higher or degree levels, so you can choose a level of qualification to suit your needs and career aspirations. You can apply for temporary, permanent, deputising, and promotion opportunities during and after completing your apprenticeship.
What does a day in the life of one of our apprentices look like?
With such a diverse group of apprentices in various professions, each day is unique. As I approach the end point assessment of a bachelor’s degree in business management – a level 6 apprenticeship – myself, I’ve found that good time management is crucial. It’s essential to plan ahead and schedule your time wisely to help you make steady progress and prevent feeling overwhelmed.
What support do apprentices at the Crown Prosecution Service get?
There’s lots of support available to our apprentices, including guidance from a personal skills coach or tutor. Your line manager gives regular feedback on your apprenticeship tasks, and our professions and apprenticeships team are here to provide expert advice. Each team also has a dedicated contact who line managers and apprentices can turn to for support.
What is the pay like as an apprentice with us?
Our apprentices receive equal pay to others employed at the same grade – so if you’re an admin officer apprentice for example, your pay will be the same as all other colleagues at the admin officer grade.
We're proud to be recognised in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2023, highlighting our commitment to the development of people across the organisation.
We're one of the top 10 employers for working families 2023 for our flexible and family-friendly policies.
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