BRIDGEWATER Community Healthcare NHS Trust – which supplies health services to a wide area of the North West, including Warrington – has become one of the first in the region to sign up to the NHS Apprenticeship Promise.
A celebration event at the Partnerships in Care training centre at Winwick, Warrington highlighted the achievements of 43 people doing work-based development programmes and apprenticeships within the Trust.
Trust chief executive Dr Kate Fallon said: “I am delighted to be celebrating the achievements of our staff and to announce our participation as one of the first NHS Trusts in the North West to sign up to the NHS Apprenticeship Promise.
“A highly skilled and motivated workforce is essential to meet the challenges of today’s workplace and we are proud to be supporting learning and development opportunities for young people and our existing staff.”
The NHS Apprenticeship Promise aims to support the uptake of modern apprenticeships across the health sector for the mutual benefit of staff, patients, trusts and the wider community.
One young apprentice making an impression is 16-year-old Jack Blundell, from Great Sankey.
He has a place on a business and administration cadet programme with the Skills for Health Academy North West and has been on placement within the Trust since last October.
Jack studies one day a week at Liverpool Community College and the rest of the week he works with the learning and development team at Bridgewater’s Warrington headquarters in Birchwood.
He is just about to finish his placement and has been awarded a 12 month contract as an administrative assistant within the team, where he will commence his Level 3 apprenticeship in business and administration.
Jack said: “I know many employers are looking for experience as well as qualifications so I really liked the idea of an apprenticeship and getting paid while I was training. The apprenticeship at Bridgewater really appealed to me as I am keen to work in the NHS or public sector.”
Pictured: Business cadet Jack Blundell joins chief executive Dr Kate Fallon, assistant director, education management at NHS North West Kirstie Baxter and Bridgewater chairman Harry Holden to celebrate adult learners and the Trust signing up to the NHS Apprenticeship Promise.
