04 Nov 2019
Dafydd Llywelyn was the first Police and Crime Commissioner in Wales to employ apprentices, and two of the first apprentices have now successfully completed their courses and gained their qualifications. It has been shown that apprentices add value, provide a skilled workforce for the future, increase staff loyalty and retention, change work prospects and open up interesting new pathways for both the employee and employer.
The first apprentice post to be offered in his office was that of Business Support Apprentice back in 2018, and 19 people applied for the position. But it was Anwen Howells who was successful in getting the post – and she still holds the post full time.
Anwen was born and bred in Aberporth, Ceredigion, but now lives in Carmarthenshire. She completed A Levels in Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi, before moving into full time employment as an administrative assistant in a property development company in Llanelli, and later a letting agency in Lampeter.
Anwen said: “When I was fortunate enough to get offered the post at the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner my hope was to gain as much experience as possible to develop in to other roles later on in life. I’ve been able to gain valuable work-experience with a large organisation whilst also working towards two NVQ qualifications in Business Administration from Coleg Sir Gâr. I met with my tutor twice a month to go through progress in respect of my work in the office but also my academic modules. I found it helpful as it helped place theoretical and academic work in context.”
Hannah Williams, who currently works in the Collaboration and Efficiency team in the force as Business Support Apprentice, has also successfully completed the Business Administration apprenticeship. Hannah had been to university and had a degree, so she completed the level 3 course.
She said: “I’d always had a keen interest in the police, however I wasn’t sure what department I’d be interested in. The apprenticeship offered me the opportunity of experience within the police headquarters, that would allow me to familiarise myself with different departments too.
“I’ve been able to meet and work with a wide range of different people within Dyfed-Powys Police. Everyone was very supportive throughout the course, and they’ve continued to support my development after completion of the course.
“I am proud that I managed to complete the course in 7 months, when you’re allocated 18 months, and was awarded the ‘Apprentice of the Year – Business Administration’ award by the college. I found it so valuable, and it gave me confidence to apply for various positions. This has led to me being successful in an application for a Demand Analyst role within the force, and I will shortly start in this permanent position which I’m really looking forward to.”
Dafydd Llywelyn added: “These are two great examples of success stories in respect of taking on apprentices. I am passionate about upskilling local people, and ensuring they have the right skills to have fulfilled and successful careers without having to move away to a city to gain them. I was the first Police and Crime Commissioner in Wales to employ apprentices, so I’m really proud that the two original apprentices have now successfully completed their courses and have valuable qualifications under their belts for their future job prospects. Anwen and Hannah have both been an asset to my office and the force. It’s also really rewarding to know that they were both in paid employment whilst studying, and that they’re both still in full time posts – Anwen in my office, and Hannah over in Dyfed-Powys Police.
“I believe these two examples demonstrate that apprenticeships provide an opportunity to gain a range of valuable work experience while in paid employment, offer excellent career progression and allows my office and the force to widen its talent pool. It’s a great investment from my perspective, and a win-win opportunity.”
Keep an eye on the Commissioner’s website for future opportunities – www.dyfedpowys-pcc.org.uk
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Notes
What is a Police and Crime Commissioner? PCCs are not the police – as the elected voice of the public, they make the police answerable to the communities they serve. They work in partnership across a range of agencies to ensure a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime.
What can they do? PCCs aim to cut crime, deliver an effective and efficient police service, provide stronger and more transparent accountability of the police, hold chief constables and the force to account, ensure community needs are met as effectively as possible and improve local relationships. Day-to-day policing operations are directed by chief constables.
Who is the Dyfed-Powys PCC? Dafydd Llywelyn was elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys in May 2016. Before that he had extensive experience of working within criminal justice, with more than 13 years at Dyfed-Powys Police. He was the force’s principal crime and intelligence analyst before becoming a lecturer in criminology at Aberystwyth University.
