Richard is currently Lead Administration Officer for the Substance Misuse Service, working in HM Prison Exeter and has just passed the recruitment test to become a Prison Officer.
“When I left school, I went straight into full-time work at a butchers but I knew that wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I have always wanted to have a career that was worthwhile and knew working in rehabilitation and the Prison Service would be a career that I would enjoy and benefit from working in.
“I knew I needed to get better qualifications to go into this line of work, so I decided on a Foundation Degree in Public Services at the College. The course was flexible so you could get a real insight into the different public services and focus on the areas that interested you. I also got the support I needed to re-sit my English GCSE and I went from a D grade to a B. These skills are fundamental when looking to work for the Prison Service.
“The College helped me get to where I am today and the teaching staff always had time for me and the other students on the course. The content and the structure of the course really suited me and I knew when I was studying at the College that this would help me get to where I want to be in my career.
“I’m now looking forward to starting as a Prison Officer and continuing my career with the Prison Service.”
