We’re the first NHS trust in the country to achieve The 5% Club’s gold standard for our commitment to providing apprenticeship opportunities for staff.

This prestigious award, given to organisations whose workforce has at least 5% of staff doing apprenticeships, highlights how we’re investing in our workforce so our staff can build their careers here.

Our apprenticeships are designed to help staff gain valuable qualifications and experience, while at the same time contributing to patient care, something Robinah Nakijoba (pictured below) has taken advantage of.

Robinah joined us in 2019 as a healthcare assistant (HCA) and now works as an apprentice senior healthcare support worker in diagnostic radiology.

Her apprenticeship is helping her build the confidence and skills she needs for a future career as a radiographer.

Robinah said:

The best part of my job is meeting patients and listening to them. My apprenticeship has been a great opportunity for growth.

The Trust gives me time to study and complete my assignments, which is allowing me to develop my career.

Andrew Tapson, 27, from Wickford, joined us on an apprenticeship programme and he now works as a ward clerk at Queen’s Hospital.

Andrew, who has autism, shared how the Trust’s supportive and encouraging environment made a difference in his success.

He said:

I feel that an apprenticeship helps you ease into the workforce far better than a usual role.

The Trust helped me by providing additional meetings with mentors and my education coach was always quick to answer any queries I had.

Andrew recently completed his Customer Service Practitioner apprenticeship and achieved a distinction.

Our success with The 5% Club comes off the back of us becoming a main provider back in April, meaning we’re now able to deliver fully accredited apprenticeship programmes in-house and offer them to our staff, instead of external providers delivering the training.

We reached the gold standard following a thorough audit which assessed not only the achievements of our apprentices but also their career progression at our Trust.

This year, over half our learners achieved distinctions in their courses.