Apprenticeships
What is an Apprenticeship?
An Apprenticeship is a job with training which allows you to gain valuable experience in the workplace, earn a wage, and achieve a nationally recognised qualification. You will spend 80% of your time spent in the workplace, and the remaining 20% of your time will be spent with the training provider.
Apprenticeships are available across the Trust in both clinical and administrative based roles. Our apprenticeship vacancies are advertised on the NHS Jobs website on an ‘as and when’ basis throughout the year. New apprentices to the Trust are employed on a fixed term basis- the length of our apprenticeships will vary depending on the level and subject. Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships are typically employed on a 14 and 20 month contract, whereas apprenticeships in higher levels have durations of at least 18 months.
Apprenticeships are available to anyone over the age of 16 and are certainly not just for those in the 16-18 age range! From school leavers to those looking for a career change, apprenticeships can be the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to begin a brand new career. In order to ensure you are eligible to undertake an apprenticeship, you must comply with the Government Funding rules.
Am I eligible for an Apprenticeship?
To apply for our L2 or L3 Apprenticeships, you must:
- Be aged 16+
- Have been a resident in the UK/EEA for the last 3 years
- Not have a qualification at L4 or above in the same or similar subject to the apprenticeship
- Not be in any form of government funded education
- Have 4 GCSEs at D/3 or above or an equivalent qualification
If you are interested in applying, please see the ‘how do I apply for an apprenticeship?’ dropdown.
Apprenticeships at the NNUH
The NNUH has been running a successful Apprenticeships programme since 2010, during this time we have supported both new Apprentices and existing colleagues undertaking an Apprenticeship as a form of Continued Professional Development (CPD.) Apprentices will receive at least one workplace mentor who will support them in learning the role, and will also be given an assigned assessor from the training provider who will meet with them regularly to ensure they are achieving their Apprenticeship qualification within the timeframe. Apprentices will also have a mentor from the Career Development Team, who will meet with them on a regular basis and provide pastoral support, as well as assisting with applying for roles during or following the apprenticeship. We have an exceptional retention rate, with 93% of new apprentices gaining substantive employment following their Apprenticeship.
New Apprentices receive National Minimum Wage for Apprentices which is £7.55 per hour as of April 2025 (£283.13 per week), alongside a travel allowance of £34. After one year on the programme, Apprentices will receive National Minimum Wage for their age.
We offer a range of both Clinical and Non-Clinical Apprenticeships at entry level:
Non-Clinical Apprenticeships:
Level 2 Customer Service Practitioner
Level 3 Customer Service Specialist
Level 3 Business Administration
Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor
Clinical Apprenticeships:
Level 2 Healthcare Support Worker
Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker
Level 3 Science Manufacturing Technician
Please note that these are not offered all year around, as stated above Apprenticeships are offered on an ‘as and when basis’ meaning we cannot guarantee that these will be available at the time of your asking.
If you want to find out more, contact the team at nnuhapprenticeships@nnuh.nhs.uk
Benefits of an NNUH Apprenticeship
- Earning and learning at the same time.
- Gaining nationally recognised qualifications.
- Getting paid holidays and bank holidays.
- Receive training and support in post.
- Receive a thorough induction and regular review sessions.
- You will be designated a mentor to help guide your apprenticeship.
- Learn job-specific skills.
- Gain exposure to the vast array of job and career opportunities within the NNUH and NHS in general.