Apprentice officers from Initial Foundation Programme (IFP) 99 took part in Exercise Synergy, a mock training event aimed at bringing classroom learning into a real-world environment.
Run by our Professional Development Unit (PDU) and held across several days at Sellafield and Culham, the exercise prepares the officers for their upcoming Non-Home Office Police Officer Apprenticeship (NHOPOA) end point assessment (EPA). By putting the officers face-to-face with authentic CNC-focussed scenarios, the PDU can assess apprentices’ readiness and provide valuable feedback and learning points.
By combining written, practical, and reflective elements, Exercise Synergy reinforces core policing skills such as effective communication, proportionate decision making, and professional integrity. It also gives apprentices the opportunity to test themselves in a supportive environment, ensuring they are better equipped for the realities of frontline policing.
Sergeant Dave Marsden, PDU Lead said “By bringing together PDU Leads from across our nuclear and non-nuclear sites, these events help us align as a force-wide training team and ensure consistency so that every apprentice receives the same high standard of training.”
Sergeant Will Roberts, PDU Lead, added “The planning of Exercise Synergy is a big undertaking that involves PDU Leads from across the entire organisation liaising with other departments and pulling together to ensure it runs smoothly and effectively. As part of developing Exercise Synergy, PDU has taken inspiration from best practices used by other emergency services, applying proven approaches to strengthen planning and coordination. The knowledge that it is contributing to apprentices being successful at their EPAs makes all the effort worthwhile and is an endeavour that PDU will continue to support and develop long into the future.”
The apprentice officers of IFP 99 will be completing their EPAs in early 2026. The EPA includes a written exam, a practical scenario, and a 75-minute discussion on the portfolio evidence collected throughout their apprenticeship.
You can learn more about apprenticeships in the CNC here https//www.gov.uk/government/news/cnc-proud-to-announce-brand-new-apprenticeship-scheme-for-afos
