Work Experience Insights Programme

Completing an application form is an essential step in the job search process, and is a requirement when applying for roles within the police service. This application will provide you with an opportunity to explain why you are interested in the placement and how your skills and interests make you a suitable candidate for a place on the programme. It will also provide you with practice in completing recruitment application forms.

Hints and Tips:

1. Before you start filling out the application form, carefully read all the instructions provided. Ensure you understand what is required for each section of the form.
2. Provide accurate and up to date personal information (name, address, phone numbers etc.)
3. Please complete all sections.
4. The mandatory fields are marked with an asterisk * beside them. These fields must be completed before you can submit the application form.
5. Explain why you are interested in the placement and what skills, passions, interests and achievements make you a suitable candidate.
6. If a page asks for large amounts of information, the data fields may be larger than the width of the page. If this is the case, use the scroll bar at the bottom of the page to scroll across to the right, and the missing mandatory field will appear.
7. Carefully review your completed application form for any errors or spelling and grammar mistakes. Consider asking a friend or relative to review it as well.
8. Ensure you meet the application deadline!
9. If you need any assistance in completing your application, please contact the Recruitment Team at hrrecruitment.team@staffordshire.police.uk

Application deadline: 6pm on the 6th November 2026

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The programme is designed to provide students with an insight into many areas of operational policing; including police dogs, investigations, roads policing, firearms, forensics, and 999 call taking. Students who are successful in securing a place will receive a detailed timetable of activity in advance with confirmation about daily arrangements (lunch, what to wear, timings etc.).

Unfortunately, no. Due to operational capacity and risk we are unable to accept any other requests for work experience outside of the dates listed above.

We recommend discussing attendance with your school or college before applying for our programme if this is the case. Many schools and colleges have indicated they are supportive of students wishing to apply. 

As this programme is focused entirely on careers in policing, it is intended for students who are seriously considering this as a future profession. If you are certain that a career in policing is not for you, we recommend that you do not apply, as the programme will not align with your interests or career aspirations.

The programme has been carefully designed as a full-week experience, with each day's activities contributing to an overall understanding of policing. For this reason, students must be available to attend the entire week, and we are unable to offer places for partial attendance.

We are committed to being an inclusive organisation and strive to make this programme accessible to all students, wherever reasonably possible.

As part of the application process, applicants are asked to disclose any additional needs or reasonable adjustments they may require. We strongly encourage students to provide this information at the earliest opportunity so that appropriate considerations can be made.

We will carefully review all requests and, where reasonable and practicable, put adjustments in place to support participation. This may involve discussion with the student and the nominated contacts provided within the application. While every effort will be made to accommodate individual needs, participation in some activities may be subject to operational, safety, or programme requirements.

No. This is an in-person programme delivered at Staffordshire Police Headquarters, Weston Road, Stafford, ST17 9BG, and virtual attendance is not available. 

The programme has been specifically designed to provide students with an immersive, hands-on experience of policing wherever operationally possible. Many of the activities involve practical demonstrations and direct interaction with policing professionals, which cannot be replicated effectively in a virtual format. 

As the programme relies on contributions from a wide range of operational teams and specialist departments located at Police Headquarters, we are also unable to deliver the programme at alternative locations within Staffordshire at this time. Students applying for the programme should therefore be able to attend in person for the full duration of the week.

The application form is available on our dedicated Work Experience Insights Programme page.

The application form can be completed in stages, allowing you to save your progress and return to it later. When completing your application, please answer all questions carefully, following the guidance provided. Be sure to give detailed information about your reasons for applying and the personal qualities, skills, and attributes you would bring to the programme. 

No. All applications must be made through the online link during the application window, which is advertised on the website and via school / college contacts. No requests for work experience will be considered if made via local stations, via telephone or on email.

The electronic application form will request a current and valid email address; this is a requirement to complete and submit the application. This can be a parent’s email address, school email address or a personal one. Please note that all subsequent information relating to your application will be shared with you via the registered email address, please ensure that this is one that is used and accessed regularly.

We aim to notify applicants and their school or college of the outcome of their application by early December 2026. Students who are offered a placement will be required to formally accept their place through our application system.

Once a placement has been accepted, further information will be provided, including programme details, daily arrangements, and any actions required before the placement begins.

More information on the application and programme timescales can be found on this page.

Prior to the programme, students will receive key placement documentation, including a risk assessment, Health and Safety Policy, Work Experience Insights Programme Guidance, and insurance information. They will also be provided with details of the weekly timetable, dress code, lunch arrangements, and other practical information to help them prepare for the week.

During the programme, a dedicated MS Teams session will be arranged for school and college contacts, providing an opportunity to raise any general questions about the experience.

Work experience is designed to help students develop key employability skills, including communication, responsibility, and independence. As such, we ask that students contact the Work Experience Insights Programme team directly regarding their placement wherever possible. While support from parents and carers is welcomed, students should be the primary point of contact unless exceptional circumstances require parent or carer involvement.

Unfortunately, due to the number of students participating in each programme, we are unable to complete individual work experience records or placement logs.

Students can still use their school's or college's work experience systems independently, as all required placement documentation, including risk assessments and insurance details, will be provided directly to them by email. These documents can then be uploaded to relevant systems, shared with parents or carers, and submitted to schools or colleges as required.

All placement documentation will be issued to students in April 2027.

Please contact workexperience@staffordshire.police.uk.