Stockport NHS Foundation Trust marks National Apprenticeship Week

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is using National Apprenticeship Week (10^th – 16^th February 2025) to promote the opportunities they have on offer to help people grown their careers.

The week is an annual event that celebrates the positive impact and valuable opportunities that apprenticeships can offer for colleagues and patients.

Learning and education staff at the trust, which runs Stepping Hill Hospital and community NHS services in Stockport, are working closely with key apprenticeship providers to arrange a series of events and activities including virtual webinars as well as an in-person Apprenticeship Provider Day Drop which will be held in the Lecture Theatres at Pinewood House on hospital site at 11th February 2025, 10.00am – 3.00pm.

All are welcome for this event, which is an opportunity to connect with leading apprenticeship providers, learn more about available programs, and explore career pathways.

There are currently over 180 apprentices working at the trust, in areas including clinical healthcare support, business administration, catering and cleaning. The apprenticeships range from a Level 2 (GCSE) Apprenticeship to a Level 7 (Masters) Apprenticeship, and are available in both the hospital and the community.

One person who has taken advantage of an apprenticeship was Elizabeth Challinor (pictured), a who works as a digital skills lead trainer at the trust.  When the pandemic accelerated the trust’s transition from classroom-based training to e-learning, she thought she needed more training in this direction.

Working on her Creative Digital Design Professional Degree Apprenticeship from Manchester Metropolitan University has helped her to enhance the online training opportunities which the trust has to offers to colleagues.  She has also encouraged two other members of her team to enrol on apprenticeships too, which she says has enriched the working of the team and given them new perspectives in improving their work.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust works with a number of partner organisations for its apprenticeship schemes, including University of Manchester, University of Salford, University of Bolton, Sheffield Hallam University, Manchester Metropolitan University, DAMAR training, QA Ltd, Bury College and HIT training.

The NHS as a whole is the nation’s biggest trainer of apprentices, with more than 20,000 starting last year.

Annela Hussain, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Vocational Learning Lead said:

“Our apprentices form a great part of the overall care we provide.The apprenticeships we run are across a very wide array of areas; not just in healthcare roles such as nursing and pharmacy, but also in roles such a roles in procurement, finance, admin and catering, as well in training and education roles such as Elizabeth’s. Whether you are new to a career, or if you want to further develop your existing role, an apprenticeship can be an extremely rewarding solution.”