03 March 2017

For immediate release

CNWL gets on board with the National Apprenticeship Week

Apprentices Bethany Wingfield and Deanna Frary are the new faces of CNWL's drive in Milton Keynes to encourage more people to join its work-based learning programme.

The campaign coincides with the launch of this year's National Apprenticeship Week - the 10th, which takes place from 6 to 10 March.

The week brings together employers and apprentices from across England to celebrate the success of apprenticeships over the last decade and will seek to encourage even more people to choose apprenticeships as a fast-track to a great career.

Bethany and Deanna are two of 23 apprentices in CNWL - 14 of which are based in Milton Keynes - who have been learning new skills while earning money and working towards a recognised qualification. There are nine apprentices based in London who are working towards a Health & Social QCF Qualification, and currently work closely with the clinical team in adult inpatient wards.

Roles within CNWL are offered within clinical and non-clinical areas, from business administration to health care workers, with the apprenticeship lasting between 12 to 24 months.

This will lead to a level 2 to 5 QCF (Quality Credit Framework) qualification in their chosen field. CNWL's apprenticeship scheme isn't just for new staff— existing staff are encouraged to apply too. Apprentices can be aged from 16 years. There is no upper age limit.

Bethany, 19, from Milton Keynes, who has been nominated for an award for apprentices, said: "My role as an admin apprentice for CNWL has been both rewarding and challenging experience. I have grown in confidence through the support and guidance of my line manager and colleagues who have gradually given me more responsibilities at the right pace for me."

Government reforms set for next April will vastly expand apprenticeships through larger investments and courses offered. This means there'll be more opportunities for staff to do higher level apprenticeships, including ones that lead to degrees, earn more and advance their careers. CNWL intends to do more than just achieve its targets. With recruitment big on our agenda, the Trust is hoping its apprenticeship scheme will also improve retention.

The programme involves e-learning modules, working with work experienced staff doing a job role and having regular catch ups with a supervisor and an assessor.

There's never been a better time to be an apprentice. The Government wants to deliver 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 partly through the introduction of a compulsory levy to increase investment from all businesses. For the forthcoming financial year CNWL aims to get 220 apprentices on board, and for 2018-2019, the target will be 170 apprentices. There will a vast amount of opportunity for new apprentices and existing staff to embark on a range of learning programmes which leads to a nationally recognised qualification.

Fiona Sullivan, apprenticeship lead - Milton Keynes, said: "In CNWL we don't just want to tick the box and reach our target. We want to make sure that apprentices have a good learning experience and really help us to deliver good services, and that will happen in several ways."

According to the Skills Funding Agency, 83 per cent of apprentices reported that their career prospects had improved, with a quarter of them receiving a promotion within 12 months of completing their apprenticeships.

Editors' notes

The attached photo shows Deanna (standing) and Bethany

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Stephenson House, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL
Tel: 020 3214 5756 e-mail:communications.cnwl@nhs.net