Apprenticeships

Earn, learn and make a difference with an NHS apprenticeship. Our apprenticeships offer routes into many of the more than 350 NHS careers through a mix of on-the-job training and classroom learning. Read the stories below of apprentices working and learning in the South East.

 

To find out more about NHS apprenticeships and how to apply visit the NHS Health Careers website.

 

Meet Physiotherapy Apprentice, Sam

Can you tell us how you got into your apprenticeship?

Having worked on the frontline of the Ambulance Service, I knew I wanted to remain within healthcare when I decided to leave. I was fortunate to secure a position as a Rehabilitation Support Worker within the Joint Community Rehabilitation Team, where I worked alongside skilled physiotherapists and was inspired by their impact on patient outcomes. My own experience with physiotherapy following a personal injury deepened my appreciation for the profession. When the Physiotherapy Apprenticeship opportunity arose, it felt like a natural progression.

What qualifications and training have you completed?

I left school with 11 GCSEs and studied Equine Management at agricultural college, earning my diploma and work-based qualifications. During my Ambulance Service time, I completed a BTEC Level 3 in Emergency Driving alongside various training courses. Since joining East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, I’ve completed my Care Certificate, and participated in continuous professional development (CPD) activities like “Making Every Contact Count.” I’m currently in my third year of the Physiotherapy Apprenticeship programme and completing a Level 4 Sports Massage qualification.

How would you explain what you do to someone unfamiliar with physiotherapy apprenticeships?

As a Physiotherapy Apprentice, I combine academic study with practical training to become a qualified physiotherapist. I support patient assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation across hospitals, clinics, and community services. I work under qualified supervision, helping to deliver personalised care plans aimed at improving mobility, function, and quality of life for individuals recovering from injury, illness, or surgery.

I study anatomy, physiology, and clinical reasoning whilst completing rotations in musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiorespiratory specialisms. This allows me to progress my career whilst contributing to patient care.

What’s the best thing about your apprenticeship?

Being able to support patients through their recovery journey whilst constantly learning myself. It’s incredibly rewarding seeing people regain movement, manage pain, or feel more confident. Each patient teaches me something new and applying what I’ve learned to help someone feel better gives me real purpose and satisfaction.

What do you find most challenging?

Keeping up with the pace of learning whilst providing the best patient support can feel overwhelming at times. There’s so much to absorb and apply in real situations. I also find maintaining work-study-life balance challenging—it’s difficult to switch off when there’s always more to learn. However, I’m working on managing my time better whilst being kinder to myself.

What are your future plans?

After completing my apprenticeship, I’d like to continue building my clinical experience as a fully registered Physiotherapist. I’m particularly interested in neurological physiotherapy and want to specialise once I’ve found where my strengths and passions align. Long-term, I want to be someone who patients trust, and colleagues can rely on.

What would you say to encourage others into this career?

Go for it! Physiotherapy is rewarding if you’re passionate about helping people and interested in how the body works. It’s not always easy and can be emotionally demanding, but seeing someone progress makes it worthwhile. Stay curious, be open to learning, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and look after your own well-being—it’s just as important as the care you give others.

 

Meet Occupational Therapy Apprentice/Rehabilitation Support Worker, Esther

How did you get into your apprenticeship?

I was already working within East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and wanted to progress my career, so I was looking into different ways of pursuing Occupational Therapy (OT). I knew a few people already on the apprenticeship who encouraged me to apply. Having support from my current employer and colleagues during the application process made things much easier!

What qualifications and training have you completed?

I’m doing the four-year Occupational Therapy apprenticeship and have completed my first year, about to start my second. There are also plenty of training opportunities within the Trust to gain additional knowledge that complements the role.

How would you explain what you do to someone unfamiliar with OT apprenticeships?

During term time I work three days a week and attend university two days. I work at Joint Community Rehabilitation, a short-term needs-based team that’s multi-disciplinary and promotes rehabilitation through exercise and equipment provision. I help people in their homes progress with goals after illness, fractures or falls. As an OT apprentice, I bring a different perspective, working on holistic goals to help people access areas of life that may have been restricted by health issues. The combination allows me to apply university learning practically in my work.

What’s the best thing about your apprenticeship?

I get to see and be part of someone’s progress week by week, often seeing them become more independent and re-engage in things that matter to them! Working in a multi-disciplinary team with OTs, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Rehab Support Workers and Falls Practitioners provides great learning opportunities. The apprenticeship offers many extra learning opportunities and training courses, plus annual student placements in different OT settings that widen learning even more.

What do you find most challenging?

Balancing work and university, especially the associated studying during term times, can be challenging. There are additional standards to meet as an apprentice to prove you’re developing towards qualified status, which creates extra work. However, working simultaneously provides extra evidence of learning taking place.

What would you say to encourage others into this career?

Occupational Therapy is a great career choice as it’s so diverse and could lead to working in any number of settings! I’d advise researching OT and arranging shadowing opportunities in local teams to get a feel for the career. Be open to how diverse OT can be—it could lead you to work in physical or mental health, or with children or older adults. Doing an apprenticeship is a great way to learn and gain experience whilst working, allowing you to put knowledge into practice straight away!

 

Meet Allied Health Professional* Support Workforce Lead, Georgina

How did you get into your apprenticeship?

I was working as a rehabilitation support worker in the joint community rehabilitation team, starting just five months before the first COVID lockdown. With 15 years of care experience, I’d moved from musculoskeletal (MSK) health to the community team. During the first wave of COVID, I started supporting patients with more urgent needs by helping the occupational therapists when staff were off ill. The service realised a band 4 would be useful for completing urgent cases without needing a registered professional. I got that job and had the option to do a Postural Stability instructor course or a foundation degree. I chose the level 5 degree for the wider knowledge base, especially after advice from a colleague who’d done it previously.

What qualifications and training have you completed?

I left school with all my GCSEs, went to college to study 3D art and design, then onto university for a degree in glass and ceramics—I can make a very nice bowl! I wanted to become a teacher but didn’t get accepted for a PGCE, so fell into care work and completed my NVQ level 3 in health and social care. Since then I have completed all the mandatory training as well as advanced making  every contact count, legacy mentoring training, restorative supervision training, as well as my train the trainer in people safe moving and handling.

How would you explain what you do to someone unfamiliar with your role?

My role is brand new to our Trust—I’ve been in it for just one year. It’s been an amazing opportunity to progress to band 5. I support all unregistered professionals within Community Health and Integrated Care, ensuring they’re trained appropriately, linking with other Trusts and networks, and relaying our support workforce’s voice in leadership meetings. I also work on competencies, roles and responsibilities, have career conversations, and offer support where needed. The role is vast with so many possible projects and ideas, and I love networking with different people and professions.

What’s the best thing about your apprenticeship?

The best thing was discovering how much I enjoyed presenting to the whole class. I got excellent peer feedback about being approachable, passionate, and funny—good qualities for a trainer! I now bring this to my current role, presenting at support worker conferences and providing various training sessions. The university experience really reinforced that I enjoyed presenting and teaching.

What do you find most challenging?

During the university course, evidence-based essays were hardest for me. This caused anxiety about returning to university, mainly due to being dyslexic and being told at a young age I’d never be good at writing. I was lucky to have a colleague who convinced me I could do it, and together we now run a neurodiversity network in our Trust.

What are your future plans?

I never thought five years ago I’d be in a non-patient facing role, let alone have a foundation degree! It’s sparked the learning bug and given me confidence to complete more training. Next step is looking at leadership training, possibly management training for band 6 progression. I’m in no rush though—just enjoying expanding my skills in this current role.

What would you say to encourage others?

Take a risk, go for new roles that look interesting, be proactive and make it suit you. Don’t be afraid to return to training or university—you’ll find something new about yourself and learn new skills. Put yourself forward for things in your services, become a champion of something. Talk to everyone regardless of their banding or stature. Believe in yourself.

 

*Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) are the third largest clinical workforce in the NHS, making a crucial contribution to treating, rehabilitating and improving the lives of patients, and being instrumental in delivering the 10 Year Health Plan. The AHP family comprises of 14 different professions:

  • Art therapists
  • Orthoptists
  • Drama therapists
  • Osteopaths
  • Music therapists
  • Paramedics
  • Chiropodists/podiatrists
  • Physiotherapists
  • Dietitians
  • Prosthetists and orthotists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Radiographers
  • Operating department practitioners
  • Speech and language therapists