NHS Mid and South Essex is supporting National Apprenticeship Week which takes place between 10 to 16 February 2025 and celebrates the benefits and impact apprenticeships can have on communities, local businesses and regional economies.
The NHS is the nation’s biggest trainer of apprentices, with more than 20,000 starting last year. Around half of our apprenticeships in mid and south Essex are career starters and the rest are upskilling of existing staff to enable professional development.
Apprenticeships offer routes into many of the more than 350 NHS careers available. This includes a range of higher or degree apprenticeships (equivalent to foundation, full Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees), including nursing and the Allied Health Professions.
NHS apprenticeships also include a variety of entry-level roles including support staff – helping employers attract talent from local communities and ensuring people from all backgrounds get the chance to pursue a rewarding career.
Apprenticeships are a fantastic way of attracting new talent to the NHS and also for developing the skills of the existing workforce. With hundreds of different NHS careers to choose from, there are a variety of jobs which can be done through an apprenticeship meaning people can earn money while they learn the necessary skills – working for their local NHS, but without having to go to university first.
Dr Kathy Bonney, Interim Chief People Officer at NHS Mid and South Essex
The Communications and Engagement Apprentice role stood out to me because it gives me the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in marketing while contributing to the improvement of patient care. I had no idea the NHS offered this type of role until I came across this apprenticeship, and it really opened my eyes to the wide variety of careers within the NHS. If you are considering an apprenticeship, don’t be afraid of not having all the knowledge straight away as you will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions and get involved with new projects.
Will started his apprenticeship with the communications and engagement team at NHS Mid and South Essex in October 2024
The best thing about the apprenticeship pathway for me is that it is a win-win opportunity. I have the privilege of attending university whilst also earning a full-time salary.
I have a mentor at work and a clinical supervisor who ensure that I am meeting both university requirements and am following the professional standards and regulations required by my job role.
Occupational Therapist, Olu, recently completed her healthcare apprenticeship at the North East London NHS Foundation Trust
Hear from other apprentices in our region:
- Bhavna – Physiotherapy Apprentice
- Brooke – Speech and Language Therapy Apprentice
- Olu – Occupational Therapy Apprentice
- Jorja – Dietetic Apprentice
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.
To learn more about local NHS apprenticeships visit the Our People Your Future website to see available vacancies:
Our People Your Future