We caught up with two of our Uniformed Public Services students to find out more about the course and what they love about it.
Uniformed Public Services, sometimes referred to as UPS, is a course designed for those who are thinking about a career in any area of public services, such as the police, army and emergency response.
The course gives learners the opportunity to learn about the demands on the industry including physical fitness, emotional resilience and delivering outstanding service to the community.
Louise and Liam share the reasons they chose UPS, what they learn on the course and what they love about College. Read on to find out more.
Louise’s experience
Louise joined the course as she hopes to become a Firefighter and since starting College, she has been thriving.
Louise loves the freedom of College life; being able to have a laugh with her tutors, heading into town for lunch and being responsible for her own time.
The course is helping her towards her career goal. Louise has developed her communication and teamwork skills and gained knowledge about professional discipline. She is also kept fit and health with practical sessions such as, sea dips and scheduled runs.
Tell me a bit about College, have you been enjoying it?
Yeah, I’ve been enjoying it. You get a lot more freedom here than at school. You can go out of town during breaks or lunch, and the atmosphere is more relaxed. You can have a laugh with the lecturers, and it just feels more grown up. I like that kind of independence and the fact that you’re trusted to manage your own time a bit more.
How does College compare to school?
At school you’re in five days a week, but here, it’s only three, so it gives me time to have a job and still earn money while studying. It’s a lot more flexible: I can balance work, fitness, and College, and still have time to relax or see friends. It feels like a better balance overall.
What’s been your favourite part of your course so far?
We do drills every other Wednesday, which are good, though it takes a lot of practice – you have to go over things loads of times to get them right. It’s quite structured, but it helps build discipline, which I think is important for public services. Everyone in my class gets along really well and it makes things a lot more enjoyable.
What kind of fitness are you required to do for the course?
We do three fitness sessions per week as homework: one for strength, one for flexibility, and one for cardio. I usually go to the gym twice a week, and then I’ll go swimming on Friday or running on Saturday. It makes for a busy week because I’ve got work as well, but it’s good to have that structure. It keeps me active and motivated.
What’s your plan for the future?
My plan is to become a Firefighter. This course feels like a good step in the right direction because it includes a bit of everything. I chose the course because it helps with the kind of knowledge you need as a firefighter, like learning about diseases, first aid, and how to treat people. There’s also a big focus on fitness, which is obviously important for that career.
Liam’s experience
Aspiring Marine, Liam, chose Uniformed Public Services to learn more about the discipline and protocols you must abide by when pursuing a career the military. Liam is enthusiastic about fitness and enjoys the physical side of the course. Uniformed Public services is an ideal course for keeping both your mind and body active.
Tell me about Uniformed Public Services, what have you enjoyed so far?
It’s been really good. We get to go out and train, and we do marching drills, which at first were quite difficult, but actually became fun once I got used to them. It’s quite strict because everyone has to be in line and move together, just like the army does, but that’s what makes it interesting.
What are you most looking forward to as you go through the course?
Probably more of the training. I enjoy the physical side of things the most as I like to stay active, it’s challenging some days, but I always feel good after a workout. I tend to do some sprints and weight training.
What made you choose Public Services in the first place?
Out of all the courses, it just seemed the most interesting. I’ve always liked the military side of things and the training that comes with it, so it felt like the right choice for me; especially since I want to go into the Marines.
Do you think this course might lead to a future career for you?
Yeah, I am thinking I would like to join the Marines. This course feels like a great starting point for that because it teaches all the skills like teamwork, communication, listening to orders, as well as giving you time and challenges to help build up your physical fitness which is really important as a Marine.
If you love staying active and want a future where you can make a real difference, our Uniformed Public Services course could be your perfect next step.
Applications for September are open now, so apply early and secure your place.