Apprentices at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust held a day of activities to showcase their work - and say a big ‘thank you’ to their managers.

The Trust’s current cohort took a day out from their regular duties for a morning of teamwork exercises at the Post Graduate Centre followed by a presentation about the key role apprentices play.

More than 50 managers from across the Trust also were awarded certificates in recognition of their support for the apprenticeship programme and three apprentices received prizes, donated by the QEHB charity, for their entries into a special competition.

Learning and Development Manager Karen Jameson hailed the UHB apprenticeship scheme, the team who deliver it and the managers who support it - urging more to get their departments involved.

"The apprenticeship programme has gone from strength to strength,” she said. "It's about doing the right thing and we're really proud of the scheme.

"We are grateful to all of the managers who support the programme and are constantly looking for more.

“We've got some really good apprentices and the vast majority of them go on to secure positions in this Trust or in neighbouring Trusts."

UHB Vocational Manager, Sue Bell, added: “More and more managers are beginning to see the worth of having an apprentice.

“Managers here have been fantastic in taking them on, supporting and mentoring them.

“We wanted to say thank you for that and to say that, on the whole, it really does work well. We have had some cracking people go through the programme.”

Teresa Deakin, a matron in the liver department, has been so impressed with apprentice Melanie Farrell, that she has offered her a job.

“Melanie is very bubbly and very keen and has fitted into the team really well,” she said. “I think the scheme works really well. It’s good for the apprentice because it gives them a good opportunity and, as they all serve a trial period, it means we have a good chance to get the right person into the post.”

Ahead of the day, which was organised to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, apprentices were asked to come up with a piece of artwork to promote the UHB scheme.

Michael McGurn claimed first prize with a poem, Jack Preece took second with a logo design, followed by Ruckhsar Malek, in third, with a song about the programme.

All three received £10 Amazon vouchers donated by the QEHB Charity.

Michael Tivey, of the charity, said: "We were very happy to provide these prizes to recognise all that apprentices do to support the work of the Trust."