MORE people across the North West will get the opportunity to train as nurses as part of a national commitment to fund more nursing degree apprenticeships and break down long-standing barriers into healthcare careers.

Announced on International Nurses Day (12 May), NHS England in the North West will work with local NHS organisations in Lancashire and South Cumbria, Greater Manchester, and Cheshire and Merseyside, to maximise the benefit of a share of the £65.4 million package for 2,000 nursing degree apprenticeships over the next three years, focused on the areas with the greatest training shortages and highest levels of deprivation, offering more people the chance to kickstart their nursing careers.

In 2024/25, 135 nursing degree apprentices were recruited across the NHS in the North West. This additional funding will enable the NHS to train more nurses.

Nursing degree apprenticeships allow people to “earn as they learn”, helping to break down barriers to traditional nurse training and enabling people to train closer to their home.

The impact of this route into nursing is already being seen in the region. Philip Lamb, a nursing degree apprentice at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, was named Apprentice Nurse of the Year at the Student Nursing Times Awards 2026.

James McLean MBE, Regional Chief Nurse at NHS England in the North West, said: “Nursing degree apprenticeships are a really important route into the profession for people across the North West, because they allow you to earn a salary while you learn and to train in your local community, and we’re already seeing the impact, including our region producing award-winning apprentices such as the Student Nursing Times Awards 2026 Apprentice Nurse of the Year.

“This funding will help employers across our region create more opportunities for talented people from all backgrounds to join nursing, while strengthening our workforce in the places that need it most. We’ll be working closely with integrated care boards and NHS trusts to make sure we maximise the impact for patients and communities.”

Minister of State for Health (Secondary Care) Karin Smyth said: “Nurses are the backbone of the NHS, supporting us both physically and emotionally through our most vulnerable moments. But becoming a nurse shouldn’t be determined by where you live. That’s why we are committed to growing the nursing workforce, especially in the areas of the country with greatest need, recognising their vital role in delivering the NHS reform set out in the 10 Year Health Plan.

“We’re unlocking an extra 2,000 additional nursing degree apprenticeships across the country in the areas that need them the most, including the North West. This will give more people the chance to start a rewarding career in nursing through an earn-while-you-learn route.

“Apprenticeships break down financial barriers and support social mobility, while building the skilled nursing workforce the NHS needs to deliver care closer to home.”

The additional nursing apprenticeships are part of wider measures to bolster the NHS workforce, by creating more opportunities for thousands of aspiring health professionals across the country. This will form part of a package of measures aimed at training more staff, modernising skills and recruitment, and shifting care out of hospitals and into local communities so patients can access timely care closer to home.

Applications for funding will open later this year.

Through its 10 Year Health Plan for England, the government is ensuring the health service has the strong, diverse workforce that is critical to building an NHS fit for the future.

Nursing and nurses are an essential part of this. They’re a critical part of the workforce, leading on patient experience and outcomes. A thriving NHS workforce is crucial to building a health service fit for the future.