Young people looking to launch new business careers within the NHS are benefiting from a completely in-house Apprenticeship Programme at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB).

The Apprenticeship Programme has been running successfully at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) for the past three years. But the Trust, which runs QEHB in Edgbaston, has now updated the scheme.

The trust’s Learning and Development department, in conjunction with the Skills First awarding body, is to deliver components of the apprenticeship framework to apprentices in-house for the first time.

In the past staff have had to attend college for the diploma and the technical certificate, but systems are now in place to enable staff to complete the diploma element on-site.

The move will help ensure that the programme is meeting its set objective of empowering apprentices to experience the employment market.

The updated Apprenticeship Programme is designed to ensure that young people aged 17 to 24 have the opportunity, and are empowered, to experience employment as well as gaining a national qualification.

The Learning and Development department is also introducing internal assessments for business administration and customer service for apprenticeships.

The recruitment process is supported by the Learning Hub, a purpose-built training centre funded by UHB, Advantage West Midlands, and European Regional Development Funds, and based on the new hospital site.

To help run the programme, Learning and Development has a range of qualified teachers, tutors and trainers. A number of assessors are also based in the department to reflect the fact that assessment is a key component of the apprenticeship scheme.

To date, 10 apprentices are now based in various departments at the Trust and completing their National Vocational Qualification/Qualifications and Credit Framework Diplomas and Functional skills.

All apprentices will stay with the Trust for 12 months. In terms of training and development, they are working towards their apprenticeship, which is broken into three parts - an NVQ where they are assessed in the workplace, knowledge behind business administration, and functional maths, functional English and ICT.

A spokesman for UHB said: “We aim to empower apprentices to gain experience of employment as well as flourish and grow in any career pathway that they seek. However, we do ensure that our values of respect, responsibility, honesty and innovation are the core our practice.

“Moreover, apprentices are introduced to our values, as well as developed to embed our values within their practice and work principles, which ensures that they are also embracing our overall mission to deliver the best in care.”

One of the new apprentices, 23-year-old Ashley McCallion, who is based in the Learning Hub, had previously been employed as a play worker.

He said: “A lot of play areas have closed down so I wanted to do something new. I felt business administration would open up the job market better for me. Apprenticeships have given me the opportunity to change career.”

Research Business Manager Helen Hunt, who has apprentice Rosie Henvey in her department, said: “She is very competent and able to carry out all her tasks with minimal guidance from us – but when she does need help she isn’t afraid to ask.”

Anyone interested in the Trust’s Apprenticeship Programme can apply from 15 October 2012 to join the next intake. The advert will be on the national apprenticeships website.

For further information, please email Sue Bell.

Email: sue.bell@uhb.nhs.uk