I recently completed a one-year placement with the Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) digital communications team, a role that gave me a unique chance to apply my creative skills in a high-stakes, fast-moving environment.
Over the year, I developed a deeper understanding of digital strategy, public communications, and the power of content to inform, reassure, and even protect the public. Here are some key experiences and lessons I took away:
Immersive Learning in a High-Stakes Role
From day one, I was embedded in a team managing CTP’s national social media and web presence. I worked on daily content planning for platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, often producing social-first graphics and videos with a strong public safety message.
In an organisation where things can change fast, I learned to adapt quickly, schedule flexibly, and always plan with crisis communication in mind. It was a crash course in real-world media management.
Capturing Sensitive Stories with Impact
One of the most rewarding (and challenging) aspects of the job was content creation. I regularly joined police deployments and live exercises, capturing photos and footage under strict guidelines. Whether filming at a festival, riding along with specialist units, or covering blue light partner training exercises, I had to think fast, be discreet, and still find ways to tell a compelling story.
To support this, I helped develop a new visual style for video and photography that allowed us to highlight important work while preserving anonymity, a key challenge when working in such a sensitive and secure environment. This approach has since been used across multiple projects to maintain privacy without compromising on clarity or creativity.
A highlight was creating a behind-the-scenes video with the cast of ITV’s Trigger Point, featuring real EOD officers — an example of creative collaboration that balanced entertainment with public education.
Supporting National Campaigns
I contributed to nationwide campaigns like #BeSafeBeSound and Summer Vigilance, helping develop creative strategies, reviewing public polling data, and supporting in-house ad production using Meta Ads Manager.
These campaigns used a mix of social media, out-of-home advertising, and on-the-ground coverage at events. It gave me first-hand experience of how large-scale communication efforts are planned and executed, and how messaging must adapt across platforms and audiences.
Building, Managing, and Improving Digital Platforms
Beyond social media, I helped maintain several websites used by both the public and professionals. I contributed to:
- Designing a new “Our People” page for CTP’s website
- Helping refresh gov.uk/ACT to improve readability and accessibility
- Reviewing ProtectUK, giving structured feedback to improve UX
I learned how to write design briefs, present feedback to development teams, and represent the user when discussing changes — skills I’ll carry into future creative roles.
Real Growth
This was my first time working in an office, and I came away with more than technical skills. I improved how I organise tasks, communicate with teams, and present ideas clearly and confidently.
From chairing meetings to refining workflows in Excel to working on national messaging strategies, I left this role with new tools, more confidence, and a much clearer sense of where I want to take my career.
I’m hugely grateful to the CTPHQ Comms Team for the constant support, knowledge-sharing, and trust they placed in me throughout the year. It was a placement that challenged and inspired me, and I’m proud of what I contributed.