Foundation degree student gains job as a police officer
A University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) student is swapping books for blue flashing lights after achieving her childhood dream of becoming a police officer.
Aged just 20, Becky Millyard from Preston secured a conditional job offer with Cheshire Constabulary before she had even completed her Foundation Degree in Policing.
Graduating last week with a distinction, the former All Hallows Catholic High School and Cardinal Newman College pupil can now take up her new position as police constable.
Becky underwent a rigorous selection process and beat off fierce competition to secure her place on the force, although she credits UCLan for helping her achieve her ambition.
She said: “This is the best degree there is if you want to be a police officer. It’s recognised by the police forces which means you need less training and it comes very highly recommended in the industry. I knew that if I did this course and worked hard I would get to where I’d want to be.”
"It feels so good to have graduated, it’s a mix of relief and being excited about the future. This is the career I’ve always wanted and I can’t wait."
Becky had no idea it would happen so soon though, and admits she initially only sent in her application to gain some experience of the recruitment process.
“I’ve wanted to be a police officer for as long as I can remember,” she says, “but I didn’t expect it to happen right away. I saw the job advert and applied, thinking that it’d be great to get some feedback on my application. Then I got a letter inviting me to the assessment centre and even then I was still just looking at it as good experience. The next thing I knew I’d been invited to a final interview and they offered me the job.”
Becky says the assessment day was so mentally and physically tough that the assessor told all the applicants to wait 20 minutes to refocus before driving home. She added: “The assessment wasn’t easy but my studies prepared me because the course covered so many different areas. My lecturers are great too, they’re all really supportive.
“It feels so good to have graduated, it’s a mix of relief and being excited about the future. This is the career I’ve always wanted and I can’t wait.”
Becky was one of nearly 4,000 students who graduated in front of family and friends at Preston’s Guild Hall.
