Grace Corney is a PRCA-trained public relations apprentice within the press office at Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Being asked about university can be daunting, especially when you aren’t as convinced or excited as the rest of your friends. I studied media and journalism at college and I felt as though I didn’t really have a choice but to continue my studies at university. I remember asking myself, “Am I really up for a new life in a different place with new people?” This was when I decided university wasn’t the next step for me.
I decided to take a gap year and waitress in my local pub, which I enjoyed a lot but it felt like just a pastime. That was when I stumbled upon the PRCA advertisement recruiting a new public relations apprentice within the press office at Cambridgeshire Constabulary. I read through the apprenticeship details and felt a sense of relief in finally finding something that seemed perfect for me. It was me in a nutshell!
It was the chance to gain valuable working experience, face new challenges everyday and improve on the skills I had already acquired from my college course, while working in an office environment with brand new people.
Throughout the past eight months, I have written press releases for local newspapers, produced CCTV appeals to the public, created posters that have been distributed across the county, managed various social media accounts, and photographed many different new recruits at passing out parades, where we welcome them to the force. I have met lots of new people both within the force and externally, and made friends within my team. PR is a fun, fast-paced and a ‘never a dull moment’ profession and my understanding and interpretation of it continues to grow!
I have felt supported by the PRCA, my mentor Andrew and my colleagues. If I ever have a problem, there are always a handful of people there to help me and this has made my confidence grow tremendously.
I never thought I would be in a role like this and that I could achieve so much over such a short period of time. I am so glad I kept my options open and found this amazing opportunity.
To find out more about apprenticeship training with the PRCA, visit prca.org.uk/careers/pr-apprenticeship
