Apprenticeships can open doors to health and social care careers

The importance of apprenticeships in the health and care sector is being highlighted this week as organisations across the country mark National Apprenticeship Week.

Running from Monday, 10 February to Sunday, 16 February, the campaign is an opportunity for employers and apprentices across the UK to promote the positive impact that apprenticeships have on individual lives, organisations, and the wider community.  

The Frimley Training Hub is the body that supports primary and community care staff across East Berkshire, North East Hampshire, Surrey Heath and Farnham. It helps to deliver training and education to aid staff development to ensure patient services are high quality, that staff have the skills they need and that their services are based on the latest information. The Hub team has been working hard to shine a spotlight on the success of apprenticeship schemes in Primary Care – a sector in which patient demand is growing and so is the need to attract, develop and maintain a workforce that will grow with it.  Roles in general practice vary from administration to digital transformation, but there is a wide range available.

National Apprenticeship Week highlights how apprenticeships help individuals develop rewarding careers, and build their skill set with confidence in a work setting.  It also allows employers to develop a workforce that have future-ready skills.

Apprenticeships are about connecting people with ambition to organisations that have the right vision.

Ella McGivern, Business Administration Apprentice:

"Being an apprentice in general practice means I know lots more medically than I expected I would.

Although the job role itself is non-clinical, we are working with clinical work and documents, so I have picked up so much knowledge from the medical side of general practice which seems obvious, but I had never thought of also learning in that way before.

As you pick up things, some processes become much easier, such as blood test abbreviations or when to know if a blood pressure is too high and you need the patient to do some more readings.

Absolutely go for it! It’s great being in a job role whilst also working towards a qualification because as well as getting experience, you’re working towards a goal".

Find out more: Apprenticeships – Frimley Training Hub