The Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) is marking National Apprenticeship Week 2026 (NAW) by celebrating two years of police apprenticeships within the force and recognising the contribution of its apprentice officers and the teams who support them.
The milestone coincides with a significant period for the programme. On 2 February, the CNC welcomed its latest cohort of apprentice officers as Initial Foundation Programme 109 (IFP) joined the organisation.
During their first week, new recruits complete a corporate induction, building an understanding of the CNC’s role, values and expectations, before receiving their uniform and starting formal policing skills training.
At the same time, the force marked the successful completion of initial training for apprentice officers from IFP 107. Passing out ceremonies were held in Oxfordshire and Cumbria to recognise the officers’ achievement at the end of an intensive training phase.
Chief Constable Simon Chesterman said “Our apprenticeship programme is producing professional police officers who are equipped to meet the specific demands of protecting the UK’s civil nuclear sites and other critical national infrastructure.
“I am proud of the commitment shown by these officers and of the staff who support them throughout their training. Apprenticeships are now a well-established and essential part of how the CNC builds and sustains its workforce.”
Read about CNC apprenticeships here
Inspector Emily Cole, who is responsible for the IFP, said the apprenticeship is designed to prepare officers for the realities of armed policing. He explained the initial policing skills phase provides firm foundations in law, professional standards, safety and scenario-based learning, before apprentices progress into firearms training.
Inspector Stuart Rodgers, CNC’s Apprenticeship Manager, said the programme relies on close collaboration across the organisation. Line managers, tutors and Professional Development Unit leads within each Operational Policing Unit play a critical role in helping apprentices apply their training in the workplace and develop into fully operational police officers.
Since its introduction, the CNC’s apprenticeship programme has reached a number of key milestones, including passing its first Ofsted inspection, surpassing 175 apprentices and achieving its first successful End-Point Assessment passes. Together, these milestones demonstrate the maturity and robustness of the programme and its contribution to the long-term capability of the force.
Learn about the history of CNC’s with this timeline
