National Apprenticeship Week 2023 - Apprenticeship Q&A with Sam Holmes

7 February 2023

Name: Sam Holmes

Job role: Medical Engineering Apprentice

CSU: Oncology

What apprenticeship are you doing/have you done? 

I am currently studying a level 4 medical engineering apprenticeship. During this apprenticeship I will be rotating around various different departments such as clinical, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, imaging, and renal engineering. Within these placements I will accompany other technicians who will pass on all their knowledge and experience. As well as this I am completing a BTEC level 4 diploma in healthcare science.

Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship at Leeds Teaching Hospitals?

I choose to do an apprenticeship program at Leeds Teaching hospitals for a number of reasons. The main one being the vast array of skills that you can learn during the apprenticeship and the potential career progression that they offer. Upon completion of the level 4 apprenticeship, you are able to complete a level 6 healthcare science degree in either clinical engineering or medical physics technology. All the members of staff are very friendly and welcoming and are more than happy to pass on all their experience to help you learn. Working within a healthcare environment allows you to see the direct impact of the work that you do and the benefit that it has towards patients within the hospital.

What difference does this apprenticeship make?

This apprenticeship makes a huge difference to the whole healthcare system, as the role supports nurses and doctors enabling them to carry out their job. It also makes a huge difference to patients as well, by reducing the downtime of equipment which reduces patient waiting times. By servicing medical equipment you are making sure that it is functioning at it peak performance which improves the care that patients get.

Do you have any advice for anyone interested in this apprenticeship?

The main piece of advice to anyone interested in completing this apprenticeship is to not be afraid to ask questions to other members of staff no matter how stupid they may be. By asking questions you will fill any gaps of knowledge you may have and deepen your understanding in that area. Another piece of advice is to make sure you keep on top of your course work that is given and make sure to write up jobs that you have carried out. This is because job write ups can be used towards your course work and tick off lots of different learning criteria.