Hospital apprenticeship programme shortlisted for prestigious health award

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) has been shortlisted in the 2014 Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards, for its programme to build a sustainable workforce for the future.

The HSJ Awards recognise projects and initiatives that deliver healthcare excellence and innovation across the country. More than 500 organisations submitted 1300 entries this year. NNUH’s project, NHS Apprentices – Changing a Workforce by Raising Aspiration And Providing Opportunity, has been shortlisted in the ‘Workforce’ category. At NNUH, apprenticeships are part of an innovative approach to succession planning and a cost effective way of building a highly trained workforce in order to provide high quality patient care.

The Workforce award recognises innovation in workforce planning to improve quality and efficiency. This includes using apprenticeship programmes as a way of growing and developing a workforce through structured training, making the NHS an employer of choice.

Anna Dugdale, Chief Executive, of NNUH said: “We are absolutely thrilled that our Apprenticeship Programme has been shortlisted for this award. By widening participation we are able to grow our own workforce through apprenticeships and access to work programmes. This is transforming lives as well as our organisational culture which is a vital part of our plans to build a sustainable, well trained local workforce providing outstanding patient care.”

Since 2010 NNUH has employed 186 apprentices. Of those who have completed their apprenticeship, 93% have moved onto substantive employment; 87% within the Trust, 6% within the public sector locally.

The Apprenticeship team will give a presentation to the judging panel made up of senior and influential figures from the health sector next month, before attending the awards ceremony in London on 19th November.