NHS apprenticeship ‘truly changed my life’

A former greengrocer has described how an NHS apprenticeship “truly changed” his life and set him on the path to becoming a nurse.

At the start of National Apprenticeship Week, Steven Jewell, aged 42, who left school at 15 with no qualifications, told how he recently completed the Registered Nursing Degree Apprenticeship and now works at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

After a range of jobs, including owning a greengrocer shop, he changed careers and joined the NHS as a healthcare support worker, before starting his apprenticeship.  

The NHS is the nation’s biggest trainer of apprentices, with more than 20,000 starting last year.

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.

Steven said: “Without the apprenticeship, I would never have been able to go to university or be in the position I am today. At nearly 40, being afforded the opportunity to earn a salary while taking a degree level course with blended work-placed learning, truly changed my life.

“The apprentice route has enabled me to go from greengrocer to registered mental health nurse in just over four years. I am now in a job I love, helping other people, as well as changing my life for the better. Don't ever think you are too old or not smart enough. Apprenticeships provide all of us with equal opportunities to our peers, and enable us to change course in life - we just have to want it.”

Apprenticeships offer routes into many of the more than 350 NHS careers, meaning people can “earn while they learn” - working for their local NHS, but without having to go to university first.

This includes a range of higher or degree apprenticeships (equivalent to foundation, full Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees), including nursing.

And the Medical Doctor Degree Apprenticeship pilot, due to be launched this year, is the first of its kind in the world and an important step forward in helping to attract a wider range of candidates to medicine. It will initially be delivered with three Higher Education Institutes.

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.

With the increased focus on data and move to electronic patient records there is also a focus on digital apprenticeships to attract new talent into tech roles in the NHS, with opportunities ranging from Data Technician to Artificial Intelligence Data Specialist.

Professor Mark Radford, Director of Long Term Workforce Plan Delivery and Education, and Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at NHS England, said:

“Apprentices are at the heart of our Long Term Workforce Plan, to put staffing on a sustainable footing and improve patient care.

“Apprenticeships are a fantastic tool, not only to attract new talent to the NHS but also to develop the skills of the existing workforce.

“Our ambition for apprenticeships is to continue to build on the fantastic success of the expansion to date and provide an alternative route to careers such as nursing and Allied Health Professions. Working with UCAS from 2025 young people will also be able to apply for apprenticeships at the same time as traditional degree programmes.”

Health Minister Andrew Stephenson said:

“I am delighted to see the NHS has emerged as the country’s top trainer of apprentices – with over 20,000 starting last year - showing just how many people continue to value a career in the health service.

“Apprentices are an integral part of the NHS’ Long Term Workforce Plan. We’re committed to boosting training for clinical staff through apprenticeships over the coming years, as we continue to deliver long term change for a brighter future.

“The introduction of the groundbreaking Medical Doctor Degree Apprenticeship will further widen participation from under-represented backgrounds — inspiring more people to pursue their dreams while allowing them to earn while they learn.”

Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said:

“The NHS serves the nation’s health needs every single day and apprenticeships are a crucial way for the health service to get the staff it vitally needs. NHS England is one of our Top 100 apprentice employers, and embraces both apprenticeships and T Levels as great ways to get skilled healthcare workers.

“Apprenticeships are crucial to giving people from all backgrounds the chance to climb the ladder of opportunity and it’s fantastic news that they plan to recruit one in five of their employees as apprentices by 2030. The NHS understand the apprenticeship levy and use it well, and I hope more employers follow their lead and experience the benefits of apprentices for themselves.”

Jennifer Coupland, chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), said:

“It’s brilliant to see that so many people are reaping the benefits of world class apprenticeships, designed by employers. They are popular across the country and with a really good variety of occupations.”

More information on NHS apprenticeships is available here.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The NHS is the largest employer of new apprentices by number of starts across the public sector in 2022/23: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/be95fdec-ad36-48f5-b934-08dc1bfa14f4

Since 2017 NHS apprenticeships have benefitted from the Government Apprenticeship Levy scheme, which is set up to distribute funds to industries and the public sector to pay for the training of apprentices.

 

Case studies

Steven Jewell – a Registered Nurse at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

I left school at 15 with no GCSES and ended up working in a fruit and vegetable warehouse for the first 12 years. I then worked in jobs which included Asda, Home Bargains, a bakery, a butchers, a casino as waiting-on staff, a fishmongers, pizza shops and takeaways. The problem was, I was never quite happy in any of them and felt completely unsatisfied. I made the decision to try something new – which led me to open my own greengrocer shop, which I ran for two years.

But I still felt like I needed something else, to do something more rewarding with my life. So I sold the shop, giving me time to search, and I applied for my first job in care – a healthcare support worker at The Harbour in Blackpool, for Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. I’ve had my struggles with mental health in the past, so this felt like a career path that would give me a sense of achievement and mean a lot to me.

It's the best decision I ever made. It was daunting as I wasn’t sure what opportunities were available for someone like me who had no experience in health and care. But it sparked something in me and inspired me to keep wanting to develop my skills and go further. I’ve been lucky to be supported and encouraged by my peers and managers to follow my dreams. I took a Trainee Nursing Associate course and then completed the Registered Nursing Degree Apprenticeship.

My daughter Stevie-Leigh graduated as a Registered Mental Health Nurse within a few weeks of me and we both work at The Harbour now. I work with older adults and she works with older adults suffering with dementia. She took a more traditional route after going to Edgehill University and I’m so proud of her.

We have both at times experienced poor mental health and I think that is ultimately what drives us to want to help others. People often ask us who inspired who but I think it was a joint effort. After speaking about our career aspirations together we both realised we wanted the same thing.

Without the apprenticeship, I would never have been able to go to university or be in the position I am today. At nearly 40, being afforded the opportunity to earn a salary while taking a degree level course with blended work-placed learning, truly changed my life.

The apprentice route has enabled me to go from greengrocer to registered mental health nurse in just over four years. I am now in a job I love, helping other people, as well as changing my life for the better. Don't ever think you are too old or not smart enough. Apprenticeships provide all of us with equal opportunities to our peers, and enable us to change course in life - we just have to want it.

 

Andrea and Zac Trewhela

It was a proud day for the Trewhela family recently when mother and son Andrea and Zac graduated through the Trust’s apprenticeship programme.

In an amazing twist of family fate, both graduated on the same day at the University of Plymouth after completing their courses.

The graduation event celebrated the achievements of its students following years of hard work. But it was an especially poignant moment for Zac and his mum Andrea as they shared the special day with their family.

Andrea has worked as a community nurse for several years and has now achieved the Masters level qualification as a district nurse.

“I felt really proud. When I found out Zac was going to be graduating on the same day, I thought I am not going to get that opportunity again. I just wanted to be there for him, and it was really lovely to see him graduate. I had that proud mum moment when I watched him walk across the stage.

“The apprenticeship was amazing. It was very different, because you have all your apprenticeship standards to meet alongside the educational modules side of the course. There are off the job hours you must complete and there is an option to do a placement in the last year.

“When you have the opportunity to step outside your day job it opens ;a whole new avenue. It has re-enlightened my interest in research and from my presentation in the second year I am following that on in the workplace as an actual project trial. I am now thinking about doing the research module to take it even further. You never stop learning and it has been a fabulous course for me.” Andrea Trewhela

Zac has just completed his 3-year registered nurse (mental health) degree apprenticeship and is now working for the Trust as a mental health nurse. He is based at Camborne and Redruth Community Hospital (Basset unit), where he is part of the dementia and older people’s mental health community team.

He said: “It was a proud day not just for myself, but also getting that opportunity to share the experience with my mum. My dad was there as well, and my nan, as well as my fiance, Charlie. It was really special.

“The team I am in are very supportive. They are easy to talk to if I have any questions. From the beginning my team manager set out the role and that has allowed me not to feel overwhelmed with the tasks I am doing. I could not have asked for a much better start with the team.”

Becky McSorley, Lead Practice Educator, said: “It has been a real privilege to have been involved in their academic journeys and they both richly deserve their success.

“I am so pleased that our apprenticeship offering has enabled Zac and Andrea, and a further 150 other staff to achieve a range of qualifications to support their career progression as well as enhance our service delivery.

“We currently have 196 staff on their apprenticeship pathways with more to start on October cohorts. They are a great way to enable our current staff to achieve career focussed and employer developed qualifications linked to their job roles, as well as attracting new staff into the organisation with career development pathways.”

Having previously graduated to become a community nurse in 2005, Andrea enrolled in the programme to complete her Masters as a district nurse.

Becky explains: “This is a 2-year programme. It covers key aspects such as advanced case management for people with highly complex unpredictable needs. It also covers holistic assessments and diagnostic decisions. As well as leading a team to manage complex, dynamic, and unpredictable caseloads. All using the most up-to-date research and evidence-based practice.

“It is a very in-depth and complex course with a high level of study requirements. Andrea has worked extremely hard to achieve the qualification, as have all our graduates.”

Zac spent 2 years in Southampton studying accountancy and finance, before deciding on a new career path in mental health.

Becky says: “During his course I was his line manager. I was involved in his regular reviews, and it has been a real joy to watch him develop as a competent and confident professional who will provide fantastic care and compassion to our service users.”

 

Paramedic Apprenticeship with the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is committed to ensuring its workforce is diverse and reflective of the communities it serves, and takes into account educational preferences, learning styles and learning support needs during its recruitment process.

One area of focus is to make the role of paramedic more accessible to all. SWASFT is working in partnership with the University of Cumbria to deliver a new apprenticeship pathway for those looking to become a paramedic, focusing initially on the areas where recruitment is currently particularly challenging – Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset.

Students completing the course will gain a Certificate of Higher Education in Emergency Care, before taking up paid employment with the Trust, as an Emergency Care Assistant and after 12 months, they will automatically secure a spot on the Paramedic Degree Apprenticeship, which is fully funded by the Trust.

Promotional video of apprenticeship pathway - https://twitter.com/swasFT/status/1752406569256390801?s=20

How to apply - https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/pre-hospital-emergency-care-/

Lucy Manning, Director of People Operations at the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), said: “We are committed to making the role of paramedic more accessible to all.

“We know that not every pathway will be right for every person, so the more we offer, the more people will have the opportunity to join the ambulance service as a paramedic.

“This is an exciting new pathway with the University of Cumbria, providing an alternative route into the service, where students will be supported by the university to develop the appropriate skills and knowledge to access employment. As part of the course, people will gain real-world experience of pre-hospital emergency care through placements with SWASFT in Wiltshire, Somerset, or Dorset.

“This route may be suitable for someone who is leaving education or the armed forces and looking to re-train for a new career in emergency healthcare.”