James Holyoak

Senior Lecturer in Policing and Leadership - Institute of Policing, Staffordshire University

With a background in Policing, James is an authentic leader with a proven record of developing people, improving performance, and delivering sustainable change.

As a police leader at tactical and strategic levels, he created adaptive, achievement-focused environments, by empowering teams and individuals to resolve problem challenges.

James supported the East Midlands Police and Academic Collaboration and continues to support police colleagues to be successful in their professional and academic careers.

James joined Higher Education and developed one of the first Degree Apprenticeship Programmes in England and Wales and led several successful contemporary policing modules, before joining Staffordshire University. He has continued to offer his experience to support students and stakeholders in developing police related learning.

James is also actively involved in research into Serious and Organised Crime and using both practitioner and academic skills to support Student officers in developing Action Research Projects, thus creating an evidence base for regional police stakeholders and future research.

As a Police Volunteer, he led an innovative Step Up programme forĀ  Police Cadets, to support diverse recruitment and retention.