Valerie McAvoy, Lead Nurse for Practice Education & Recruitment, and Shilpa Bhatt, Apprenticeship Business Manager, for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) answered our questions about why apprenticeships have worked for their organisation.

Welcome Valerie and Shilpa, happy National Apprenticeship Week 2020! How long has the Trust been employing apprentices?

Valerie: Since 2015, however the theatre department has just started with apprenticeships for the Operating Department Practitioner course (ODP) and Nursing Associate Trainees with the first cohort of ODPs in September 2019.

Apart from using the levy, what other benefits made your organisation consider employing and training apprentices?

Shilpa: Currently the NHS is facing a shortage of skilled staff; training is one of the areas that will help close this gap. Our workforce strategy is forward thinking and apprenticeships will provide us with staff trained by our experts and help with retention. Not only is it an excellent means for us to attract fresh talent but at OUH we develop and reskill existing staff to offer progression. It delivers stability for patient care, retention and narrows skills gap.

What percentage of your employees are apprentices?

Shilpa: We have increased the range of apprenticeships programmes, and currently have 257 apprentices on training compared to 148 last year. We are registered Employer/Provider and deliver a range of entry level apprenticeships in-house to applicants. We had a new provider Ofsted visit in 2019 who praised us for the support we provide to young people. Our own delivery training centre currently has 30 apprentices.

How have you seen things change in your organisation since introducing apprentices to your workforce?

Valerie: We have yet to feel the full benefit of this. However, to be able to offer this opportunity to existing staff to progress in their careers with the OUH is invaluable. A lot of these staff although having the capability, did not have the means to take up this course. The apprenticeship provides them with an opportunity that allows them to continue to support their families with the added advantage of gaining a valuable qualification with future job progression.

Shilpa: The Trust has invested additional funding and resource into its apprenticeship provision; significantly widening the standards on offer. It places huge value in benefits apprenticeships can bring to ensure there is a pipeline of skills to improve patient care. Preparing our workforce for the next step on the career ladder ensures we are able to develop and retain our high-quality staff. Over 90% of our apprentices secure permanent employment within our Trust. Apprentices are supported to develop aspirational and realistic plans through specialist guidance and clear pathways in the health sector. The Levy has opened up a number of really exciting opportunities allowing us to invest and grow a well-trained and committed workforce.

What do the apprentices tell you about their experiences?

Valerie: All of our ODP apprentices were Perioperative Nursing Assistants with a lot of theatre experience. The students feel supported and are thoroughly enjoying the course. They relish the challenge of the degree and progressing in an area that they already had experience in. The learning experience is clearly enriching and providing them with a different perspective of managing patient care in the operating theatre environment.

How have apprenticeships opened up opportunities for individuals personally?

Valerie: The apprentices have the capability but not the means. Many of our apprenticeship students wanted to do the course but financial constraints and outside commitments meant that they could not leave their jobs, take a student loan and do the course with no regular income. This is one of the most positive aspects of the ability to offer apprenticeships as these staff will be able to progress to registered practitioners and beyond.

Have apprenticeships helped retain/gain staff?

Valerie: From the operating theatre perspective we have yet to have statistics to back this up but are confident that we will be able to fill vacant posts and retain staff.

Shilpa: Preparing our workforce for the next step on the career ladder ensures we are able to develop and retain our high-quality staff. More than 90% of our apprentices secure permanent employment within our Trust. High-quality impartial guidance and support is provided so that apprentices develop aspirational and realistic plans for their future. Application and interview skills workshops prepare them to apply for vacancies in any sector.

Thank you both.

For more information about jobs at OUH visit its website.

To find out more about our apprenticeships and how we can help your business visit our dedicated pages.