Mature apprentices welcomed

The campaign is not just aimed at getting apprenticeships for young people.

Ladder co-ordinator Anne Moore said the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust was already taking on mature apprentices who were finding the programme fulfilling and rewarding.

One of the apprentices is Karen Connaughton who has completed Customer Service Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard.

“I was originally put forward for the apprenticeship by my managers and at first, I wasn’t sure if it was something that would be relevant to me or even something that I wanted to do.

“I feel that I have gained so much from my apprenticeship. I have gained a better understanding of the service that my organisation provides and my role within that. I have learnt about how and why we do things in a certain way.

“I’ve gained so much knowledge and developed my customer service and digital skills along the way but not only that, I have really gained so much confidence,” she explained.

Being on the apprenticeship has given her the confidence to look into becoming a health care assistant.

Amanda Healy followed the apprenticeship path for Level 3 Healthcare Support Worker. She works on the antenatal day assessment unit in maternity and is based at City Hospital as a trainee assistant practitioner in midwifery.

In 2016 she was a domestic assistant at City Hospital with a dream to become a midwife.

“My personal determination saw me overcome a number of organisational barriers and gain support to work additional hours in an HCA role as an apprentice. I did this whilst still doing my ward services role and it was the first time a domestic had done this,” said Amanda, who is now at Birmingham City University on a two-year Apprenticeship Foundation degree in midwifery assistant practitioner.