Choosing a Course

Why I studied a BTEC

University of Bedfordshire graduate Clive embarked on a BTEC in Uniformed Public Services to keep his career dreams alive. Here he outlines the benefits of BTECs for getting the career you’ve always wanted.

Clive Sheridan
by Clive Sheridan
Last Updated:
09 Jan 2024

BTECs are often seen as the poor cousin of A-levels but I’m not really sure why. BTECs can carry equivalent UCAS points to A-levels and employers don’t seem to mind which type of qualification you have, so it’s a shame that BTECs don’t get the recognition they deserve.

Many people see BTECs as simply a first rung on the career ladder – true, they are vocational alternative to A-levels, but they open a lot more doors than might be first imagined, as my experience showed.

Why I took a BTEC

BTEC story
image via blogspot

My BTEC was in Uniformed Public Services. It’s an unusual sounding course but one that provides training and a qualification for anybody who wants to work in the police, fire service, RAF, army or navy.

I had always wanted to work in the police force – I grew up in an area where there was quite a high level of crime and wanted to join the force, to serve in the local community. But this plan got derailed when I left college – at the height of the recession – and the police were cutting jobs not creating them. So I took an apprenticeship in business administration and worked in the offices of local businesses, supporting their work.

It was not what I wanted to be doing long-term, so when the job market picked up I enrolled on a specialised BTEC, which seemed perfect for getting my dream career back on track. I suppose this is a good thing about BTECs – there are some really specific ones out there so if you know where your passions lie it can be a good option to look at.

As a BTEC student I met other people who, like me, wanted hands-on training, to learn on the job – for example we got to work on the Olympics security operation, something that an A-level student could only dream of.

After my BTEC…

studying
image via The Odyssey Online

I passed my BTEC, and at this point could have gone into a low-level role in the force but I enjoyed my studies so much that I just wanted to keep on going.

I enrolled on a course in criminology at the University of Bedfordshire, which itself had a huge practical learning element. We visited prisons, the Crown Court, and also the Houses of Parliament, giving me more and more insight into what the job of a police officer might entail.

I am currently thinking about applying to be a Special Constable and think my application will be stronger for all of this practical experience I now have under my belt. But with my BTEC, my degree, and my business experience, I could go onto any number of jobs, in the criminal justice sector and beyond.

My BTEC advice

advice
image via giphy

So, if anybody says BTECs limit your options I would say they’re quite wrong. If anybody says BTECs define your career, again, I say they’re wrong.

When you get your BTEC grades, think broadly about university courses that might in the long-term better meet your aspirations. Getting a job that you love is a long game, so taking a breath and thinking about where your BTEC can take you is a good thing to do. If it worked for me, it could work for you!


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