Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes, leading to nationally recognised qualifications designed around the needs of employers and employees.
Our short film explains more about apprenticeships at LTHT and profiles three colleagues who have completed apprenticeship programmes at the Trust.
Apprenticeships at Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Leeds Teaching hospitals trust is a strong believer in using apprenticeships to grow our workforce and we currently support around 900 apprentices in the organisation.
At the moment we offer over 60 different types of training apprenticeship programs to our staff, ranging from level two entry-level programs such as the Apprentice clinical support worker, through to level seven Master’s qualifications. The most popular program we offer is The Apprentice clinical support worker program in which a learner will train to be a fully-fledged clinical support worker capable of working in a hospital Ward.
Hi my name is Joanne Rockliff, I’m 41 years old and I am currently doing an apprenticeship clinical support worker role.
Hi my name is Larissa Thornley Johnston I’m 18 years old and the apprenticeship I’m doing is a level four Healthcare science diploma.
Hi I’m Gesnia I’m currently studying a level three diploma in Dental nursing and I’m an apprentice Dental nurse.
Hello my name is Alex Diggles I am service manager in adult critical care and I’m currently undertaking a level seven senior leader apprenticeship.
I chose this specific apprenticeship because I grew up on a farm, so I’ve always been around the engineering mechanics background, so I’ve always enjoyed tinkering with things always fixing things and things like that and I also have a love for science as well so that’s why I did a biomedical science at College. Them two aspects together just created the perfect apprenticeship.
I chose the clinical support work apprenticeship because it was the first step on the path to becoming a registered nurse.
I became an apprentice in the middle of 2021. I had had some conversations with some senior colleagues about my career and where I wanted to end up and I received some advice that a postgraduate qualification would be beneficial in order for me to achieve my career ambitions. I had a few conversations with colleagues and with people who done similar qualifications, had a look what was out there in the education sector and decided that going through organisational learning and doing a Level seven apprenticeship through the trust was the best option for me.
My apprenticeship will help me in my career progression as I am working alongside healthcare professionals every day who help me learn on the job.
I see my apprenticeship helping me massively. I’ve learned so much about Healthcare and just being on the wards and working with colleagues and knowing how a thing works and knowing the Leeds Way values and understanding the care certificate really gives me a foundation onto the next step.
I chose this apprenticeship because I was always eager to join the medical field, I was going to study nursing at University but I prefer to learn things more practically and I feel as though it’s the best rout because I can earn a living while learning and there’s also a variety of like specialities and progression routes that I can take after I finish my apprenticeship.
If you’re hands on like me I encourage you to do this apprenticeship. If you’re not entirely sure about going to University and learning from a textbook I think this is the best career pathway to go down. I’d go for it. I was scared at first because of my age. I’m kind of classed as a mature student now and I know a lot of the people that was on the course were a lot younger than me, but they kind of look up to you sometimes and you seem to get asked lots of questions. I feel really confident. Anybody who’s thinking about doing it, it’s a fantastic place to work, colleagues are supportive, there’s things out there, resources to help you all the time.
Already in my apprenticeship I have a lot of experience in being able to communicate and work with many individuals such as Electronics team, mechanical team and clinical Computing . My plan after I complete the level four apprenticeship is moving on to the degree apprenticeship and progressing in my career as an engineer.
My advice to anyone thinking of doing the senior leader apprenticeship would be that it’s a lot of work. There is a lot of time and effort and pain involved in it but it’s all worthwhile. There have been some fantastic tools that I’ve picked up through the course , some of the networking both inside the NHS has been invaluable and I’m really hoping that it’s going to set me on an upward trajectory in my career moving forwards.
We offer all our existing staff the chance to study a relevant apprenticeship that can grow their career. One of the best things about doing an apprenticeship in our part of the Health and Care system is the fact that you can make a difference. We look after people during some of the worst moments of their lives and our apprenticeships play a vital role in supporting patients during these times.
Whether it’s the Apprentice nurse that provides compassionate care or the business administrator who helps keep the clinics running on time. One of the great things about doing an apprenticeship with us is the chance to develop your career. As a staff member at the trust you are free to apply to study for any apprenticeship that will support your development and we would encourage staff to do so. If you are interested please get in touch with the Organisational Learning team at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.
Further information of the various apprenticeships at the LTHT can be viewed below:
Developmental apprenticeships for staff Entry level apprenticeships