The NHS will create 100,000 apprenticeships almost 7 times the current number across the country by 2020, offering opportunities to thousands of young people who want a career in the health sector.
This commitment follows the launch of the government consultation to make 2.3% of workers in large public sector bodies apprentices. The roles will be created in a range of areas within the NHS, including: nursing and healthcare assistants, IT, estates and facilities, domestic and housekeeping services and business administration and accounting
Ministers expect to boost the NHS apprenticeships programme with an estimated 17,000 new roles in 2015 to 2016.
Health Minister Ben Gummer said: As one of the largest employers in the world, I am immensely proud that the NHS is leading the way in offering thousands of aspiring young people the opportunity to become an apprentice. We will work with trusts across the country to improve access to a career in the healthcare system for anyone who has the drive and values to pursue it.
This apprenticeship plan, along with the £10 billion we have invested to back the NHS’s own plans for the future, will ensure staff have the opportunity to develop their careers in both existing and also new and exciting roles such as nursing associates. We can’t have a strong NHS without a strong economy and this government is committed to creating more jobs and opportunities for Britain.
The scheme will mean existing NHS staff can have the opportunity to try a new role or enhance their current role.
These apprenticeships also support the NHS commitment to widening participation and social mobility in broadening the routes into training and employment in the NHS, especially in attracting more young people and improving diversity within the workforce.
There is work already taking place across England that the government hopes to build on. Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has linked up with local colleges to encourage students to take up healthcare assistant roles. Of the 24 trainees initially taken on, over half have stayed working within the Trust and only 3 have left to pursue a career outside of the healthcare system. North Bristol NHS Trust has developed a strong partnership with its local Jobcentre Plus and now has 20 out of the original 27 trainees employed in a range of roles including administration and payroll.
This drive was backed by ministers when they announced the introduction of a new apprenticeship role in December 2015 the nursing associate. It is anticipated that up to 1,000 people could be trained in this new nursing support role from 2016.
There are already a variety of different apprenticeship roles in the NHS and the government plans to develop more, for example in nursing and paramedics.
