UWE Bristol Qualification

Get the undergraduate qualification and academic recognition you need to progress your established career in the police or criminal justice sector. Get access to the latest facilities, supported by UWE Bristol's respected reputation as a policing and criminology education provider.

As policing has evolved in recent years with the introduction of degree-based qualifications for new recruits, a gap has been identified within the workforce. Our BSc(Hons) Applied Criminal Justice Top-Up degree aims to address this gap by giving existing officers access to university-level education.

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Reviews

Customer Reviews

Wherever you are at in your career, we give you everything you need to quickly and successfully make the move. Click on the icons below to find out how:

Anonymous member

Morning all. I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank Andy Labrum and this whole group for giving me the support to have the courage to start my journey in leaving the job I once loved. 19 years all on response and I’ve had enough. For the sake of my own health and my family, I’ve applied for a role in local government. Strange feeling to apply for something out of the job and even if I don’t get any further, it’s the first step to hopefully a new career and life. Good luck to you all who are in a similar position and I wish you all the very best in your endeavours

Facebook Post (Member 2)

So after almost 5 years in the Met Police, I’m really happy to say that I am now two weeks for leaving and I have a new job with Lego in the UK at their head office. I really wanna thank Andy from the group for a call and chat I had with him which made me really weigh up if this was the right world for me, and I cannot wait to start my new role in September. It took nearly two years of searching for jobs and roles and applying constantly. I never got any interviews anywhere but I managed to get an interview and “smashed” it according to them. So absolutely buzzing. Keep going everyone if you're still trying ... as I said took 2 years for me but got there in the end.

Anonymous member

I’m on my way back from an interview I’ve just had out the force and I am buzzing!!! I honestly believe my confidence has come from everyone’s positive stories on this group. I posted several months back about not having any joy in the market, kept getting rejected so I went away and started applying for jobs with competency based application forms. This has resulted in this interview today and I’ve left feeling super proud of myself. I listened to podcast 42 and they were super impressed by my reflecting back and talking about lessons learnt! Even if I'm unsuccessful (the idea of possibly accepting something is terrifying in its own right) I just want to thank everyone. A year ago I believed I was institutionalised and had nothing to offer but finding this group and constant affirmations of transferable skills has enabled me to believe as a police officer you are capable of so much more. I won’t find out until next week but right now I’m just feeling incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved and the confidence I displayed in interview! Everyone else keep going – you’ve got this!!

Andrew T

Andy and I had our first clarity call at the end of June 2022 and I was in a pretty dark place. I was very unhappy at work, and I’d applied for over 150 jobs and barely got an interview. Andy spent time with me to really look at what I’d achieved and helped me focus on what I’d need to do to successfully move on. Soon afterwards, I got invited to interview for a new role, so Andy and I went through an interview prep session together and signposted me to the Blue Light Leavers podcast, which is full of useful information. I also joined The Academy from Blue Light Leavers which has been really helpful. This support has resulted in me being offered a fantastic new role, which I start in November. The Academy and the Blue Light Leavers Facebook community is such a positive, supportive network and has really helped me focus, and given me the confidence to apply for roles that otherwise wouldn’t have applied for, as I thought, all I could ever do was be an investigator.

Claire

I was genuinely overwhelmed when I received that phone call to say I’d got the job and the feedback was amazing. Such a confidence boost! Andy’s advice and support does not end once you get the job offer! Never underestimate your worth!

Lily

When I first enquired with Andy I was completely lost on my career trajectory. After 5 years in policing, I knew I wanted to do something else, but my confidence was rock bottom and I didn’t think I would be employable anywhere else. I was having a difficult time in my personal life and work was adding to the stress. After our first call, I immediately felt more optimistic and clearer about my future. Andy helped craft my policing experience into transferable skills for the private sector, discussed interview techniques and even gave me advice for negotiating salary on my first job offer – which was successful! After months of reading others’ success stories on the Blue Light Leavers Facebook page, I was finally able to post my own! I’m now in a new role in consulting that I never could’ve imagined this time last year. Andy was fundamental in me securing a job outside of policing and I haven’t look back since

Lynda

In October last year, I was made redundant from a role that I had been in for eight years. I must admit I was completely daunted at the prospect of searching for a job in the middle of a pandemic, when there were so many others in a similar situation as myself. I contacted Andy on a number of occasions and he offered really constructive guidance with regards to my CV, applications and covering letters. I was invited to attend Zoom interviews for both positions. Andy took the time to coach me via video and phone calls, with regards to interview preparation, the importance of evidencing my skills and abilities and the all-important relaxation techniques. As a result I found myself in the enviable position of being offered both jobs! Something I never would have thought possible. I can only offer my heartfelt thanks to Andy for his amazing support, guidance and positive encouragement. Hand on heart I know that without his help I would not be in the happy situation I am now.

Hannah W

I was directed to the blue light leavers Facebook group after going through a bad experience at work where I was treated badly and not supported by my organisation. At this time, my mental health was in a pretty bad place. Although I knew I needed to leave the police; I didn’t know where to start. After reading other officers’ journeys and listening to Andy’s podcasts I wrote my CV and secured an interview for a role in security. I continued to listen to the podcasts and was successful in securing the role. Life is now a lot different, and I am happy for the first time in a long time! Andy’s Facebook group and podcasts were a shining light in a dark place, and I will be forever grateful.

Anonymous member

So tomorrow is my last day. And whilst I’m sad to say goodbye to the people I am not sad to walk out from under the grey cloud and claw back my old self. Whether the grass is greener or not it can’t possibly be any worse. I want my mental and physical health back to how it used to be and its time I put my children, partner, family and friends before an organisation that doesn’t care about me. Reading all the posts in this group helped give me the nudge to just do it and resign and get a role back working in the public sector. All the best everyone. Genuinely cannot wait to walk out the door tomorrow

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