At the start of National Apprenticeship Week, the NHS in the South East is celebrating that during the past academic year (2022/23) almost 3,000 people have joined an NHS Apprenticeship Scheme in the region.

A medical emergency in the middle of a flight, led air stewardess Lisa Desbruslais, to change career and land a lifesaving role as a nursing associate in a Critical Care Unit. The mother of three was inspired to pursue her dream to become a nurse after the incident, and after joining Queen Victoria Hospital in Sussex as a healthcare assistant, she shortly began her Nursing Associate Apprenticeship. She is now on track to receive a nursing degree.

Kent primary school teacher, David Meacham, completely changed career at the age of 59, swapping the classroom for a busy A&E department at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Foundation Trust (MTW). David is currently undertaking an apprenticeship to become an Emergency Department Practitioners’ Assistant.

Apprentices are a crucial part of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and NHS England aims to triple the number being trained by 2030, so they make up more than one in five new recruits.

Joint Interim NHS South East Director for Workforce, Training and Education, Ruth Monger, said: “Apprentices are an essential part of the NHS being

able to deliver the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan – growing and developing our workforce to improve patient care.

“Apprenticeships are a fantastic tool, for any age or stage – for those starting out in their careers, career changers and those in established roles. They are critical to the NHS being able to attract new talent whilst also providing opportunities to develop our existing workforce.

“Across the region, I am delighted by the wide range of apprenticeships on offer, and that the range of programmes and number of trainees continue to increase with the most popular being the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship. This is enabling us to substantially grow our nursing workforce.

“This week is about recognising and celebrating our apprentices, and the valuable work they complete across the NHS.”

Across the South East there are a wide range of apprenticeship programmes including:

• Careers for Young People, is an award winning programme at the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, in partnership with HTP Apprenticeship College. It offers 16 to18 year-olds the opportunity to experience NHS careers, where during a six-month pre-apprenticeship, learners rotate around different business and clinical areas and learn about workplace expectations. This is followed by an 18-month apprenticeship with a Level 2 or 3 qualification to be achieved as a Lead Adult Health Care worker or Business Administration.

• Apprentices in Hampshire are boosting their career journey in health and social care by undertaking a health and care Portsmouth apprenticeship at Portsmouth City Council which will see them work in three different health, care and community support settings while studying for a Level 2 Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship and Adult Care Diploma. Each placement will last five months and all apprentices are guaranteed a job interview for a permanent post at the end of the course.

• Staff already working in healthcare are using apprenticeship programmes to further their careers. Abbie Hadlow and Charlotte Slater were the first maternity support workers to complete a midwifery degree apprenticeship offered through Medway Maritime NHS Trust in partnership with Greenwich University Medway Campus.

• In Dartford and Gravesham NHS Foundation Trust there are over 150 staff on apprenticeship programmes; both clinical and non clinical.

As part of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), which runs from Monday 5 to Sunday 11 February, we are celebrating our NHS apprentices.  We would encourage people to consider how apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, and employers to develop a workforce with future ready skills.

More information on NHS apprenticeships is available on the NHS Health Careers website.