What are Apprenticeships?
For Primary Care Networks and General Practices, hiring an apprentice is a crucial way to attract and retain the brightest and most dedicated jobseekers, to reduce current workforce pressures and introduce new ways of working and delivering care. Apprenticeships are also vital in developing staff and helping them reach their potential whilst still supporting the organisation. Apprenticeships range from Level 2 to Level 7, in both clinical and non-clinical fields with some even including qualifications and degrees.
Apprenticeships are training programmes that combine workplace experience with off the job learning. The apprentice will be learning and gaining experience ‘on the job’ alongside off the job activities, such as assessments, research, personal reflection and more formal classroom activities.
Typically, for someone in full time employment, an apprenticeship would entail 80% normal work and 20% ‘off the job’ training. In other words 4 days at work and 1 day training.
There are different levels of apprenticeship from intermediate (level 2); advanced (level 3); to higher (level 4, 5) and degree levels (level 6, 7). Level 2 is usually 12 – 18 months; Level 3 is usually 18 – 48 months and Levels 4, 5, 6 and 7 are usually 24+ months in length.
Anyone over the age of 16, who is not in full time education, can apply to be an apprentice, but anyone can start an apprenticeship at any point in their life, whatever their age, background or career level.
The Hub Plus Derbyshire supports General Practice at every stage along the way of hiring and training an apprentice, as well as providing help and support directly to apprentices themselves.
For more details, please visit the gov.uk website (https://www.gov.uk/become-apprentice) or for further information about apprentice schemes check out the NHS Careers Website (https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/nhs-apprenticeships).