NHS organisations will receive a total of £25 million to create 5,000 new NHS
apprenticeships by March 2010, Health Secretary Andy Burnham announced
today.
The funding forms part of the Prime MinisterÕs commitment made in February
2009 to increase the number of apprenticeships by 21,000 across the public
sector, expanding and strengthening apprenticeships as a mainstream option
for young people and adults alike.
New NHS apprenticeships will get real Ôon the jobÕ experience while
improving their qualifications and contributing to the NHS workforce.
Apprenticeships will include clinical support roles such as dental nurses and
pharmacy support workers and non-clinical roles such as IT support, estates
and facilities management and catering.
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said:
ÒThe funding to create 5,000 new NHS apprenticeships is the right move at
the right time.
ÒThe public sector has an important role to play in supporting people through
the recession. Young people in particular are being hit hard and are
struggling to get even near the jobs ladder.
ÒThe NHS is a stimulating and worthwhile environment and the
apprenticeships will provide excellent training opportunities and a vital
springboard into full-time employment.Ó
Apprenticeships widen the range of young people who can work in clinical
support roles with the added potential of progressing to a professional
career.
In addition to the £25 million worth of funding announced today, progress
towards achieving the 5,000 new apprenticeships has so far included:
* the creation of a National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee chaired by
GuysÕ and St ThomasÕ NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive Ron Kerr to drive
progress and promote recruitment and retention of apprenticeships in the
NHS
* plans from Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) which demonstrate their
individual planned contribution to this important commitment
joint working between the NHS, Skills for Health (the sector Skills Council
for the health sector) and NHS Employers who are actively supporting the
NHS to promote a skilled, flexible workforce to improve the quality of health
and healthcare through appropriate apprenticeship training programmes and
frameworks for both health employers and employees.
Meeting apprentices on a visit to Aintree Hospital, Liverpool, today Health
Secretary Andy Burnham said:
ÒWe are totally committed to being able to provide apprenticeship
opportunities for young people. Our ambitious programme to more than
treble the number of apprentices will create over 5,000 new apprenticeships
in the NHS.
ÒApprenticeships are an excellent way of giving young people the chance to
learn life changing skills and offer a genuine opportunity to train clinical
staff.’
ÒIn these tough economic times, we must do all we can to provide high
quality routes into jobs so that we can ensure we have a highly skilled, highly
motivated and loyal NHS workforce for future generations.Ó
There are currently 1,500 apprentices in the NHS. All new apprentices will be
in post by March 2010.