National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity to celebrate the many NHS apprentices that are well on their way to exciting careers in the National Health Service.
From nurses to management, business administrators to healthcare scientists, the NHS apprenticeship scheme offers opportunities to earn and learn and is available to anyone, (16 years old +) and with any previous qualifications.
Our Trust has invested over £1.7 million in apprenticeship courses to support the local workforce and is currently supporting 161 people studying towards apprenticeship qualifications in a range of clinical and non-clinical roles.
Mollie is a Business Support Officer at St. Mary’s Hospital and has completed Levels 3 and 4 in Business Administration and is now starting Level 5 Operations/Departmental Manager Apprenticeship.
“I first started my journey with the NHS in 2018, fresh out of school. I’d completed my A- Levels and applied for a Business Administration Apprenticeship working for the general management team. I learned all about the working world and the day to day running of the hospital and I really enjoyed my level 3 apprenticeship course because it gave me the opportunity to put my learning into practice.
“The way apprenticeship standards are delivered suits me well because I am a practical learner and I gain a sense of achievement by seeing what I have learnt being put into place. My team supported me throughout my apprenticeship and I felt I learnt a lot more than if I had studied at University.”
William works in Mental Health and has just completed the Nursing Associate Level 5 Apprenticeship and is now a NMC registered Nursing Associate.
“Living on the Isle of Wight my entire life and wanting to go to University led to anxiety of having to move away from home or commute regularly as well as the University fees. I would have ended up in debt trying to achieve a qualification that I have wanted my whole life.
“With the apprenticeship I was able to work from the comfort of my own home and have a steady income, while constantly learning and eventually getting a degree.”
2021 saw our first cohort of nursing associates graduate on the Island with a further 6 nursing associates due to qualify this month. We also had our first senior leader master’s degree and chartered manager degree apprenticeships.
Future plans for apprenticeship opportunities in 2022 include the recruitment of more allied healthcare professionals to the Island which include operating department practitioners, occupational therapists, diagnostic radiographers, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Find out more about NHS apprenticeships
What is it like being an NHS apprentice? Read:
Mollie's story
William's story
Joanna's story
Bethany's story
All apprenticeship vacancies for IOW NHS Trust are advertised on jobs.nhs.uk
