Meet the apprentices who joined our hospitals and developed their skills during the pandemic, as the NHS celebrates National Apprenticeship Week.
National Apprenticeship Week 2022 is the 15th annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships.
At Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (CUH) there are more than 420 members of staff studying apprenticeships.
These are across a range of roles, qualifications and academic level.
To read some case studies on current apprentices, click here.
Lucie Clift started her physiotherapy apprenticeship in September 2021 and currently works with the medical physiotherapy team.
She had been working at CUH as a physiotherapy technical instructor and wanted to progress her career while still working and living in Cambridge.
If she had taken the direct route to university, it would have taken 3 years out of work in order to study, by doing an apprenticeship it allows her to do both.
I think the apprenticeship is ideal for someone like me who hasn't been to university.
Lucie Clift
Chris Bridgeman currently works in the specialist haemostasis laboratory as a trainee biomedical scientist.
After sixth form, he decided that further education in a school/college setting wasn’t for him. He opted instead for an apprenticeship and completed his Level 3 laboratory technician course before progressing onto his Level 6 degree programme.
This involves lectures at university, completing assessments and additional learning on the job.
He is also working towards his IBMS (Institute of Biomedical Scientists) registration portfolio which allows him to become a qualified biomedical scientist.
Don’t be afraid of doing something a bit different, I am in the same position as most of my friends that finished college and went straight to University without the debt and the benefit of being paid the whole time as well.
Chris Bridgeman
Bryony Wright works with other trusts from across the region as a health and care academy co-ordinator for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System.
In January 2020, Bryony undertook a Level 2 business administration apprenticeship with the employee relations team.
Since completing that apprenticeship, she has gained permanent employment and enrolled in a Level 4 improvement practitioner apprenticeship.
I had fantastic management who gave me confidence in my abilities. As a result, I was awarded with the Intermediate Apprentice of the Year for the East of England 2021!
Bryony Wright
How to get involved
CUH is running a series of events for people to find out more about apprenticeships at the Trust.
For more information on apprenticeships click here to visit our CUH Careers website.
- Tuesday #AskAnEmployer
11.30am event on Zoom for anyone to attend. The link for this is www.bit.ly/3g8MNlP (opens in a new tab) .
- Wednesday #AskAnApprentice
Instagram Q&A with Bryony Wright.
- Saturday Parents and Carers Day
10.30am 1 hour zoom information session on apprenticeships with a Q&A, aimed at parents and carers. The link for this is www.bit.ly/3KU9zvW (opens in a new tab)
Please email: apprentices@addenbrookes.nhs.uk