Apprenticeships

Trainee apprenticeships

Our trainee apprenticeship programme offers an exciting opportunity to acquire valuable skills, gain experience and work towards a qualification. If you are interested in completing an 18-month apprenticeship in Business Administration or Estates, please contact westherts.apprenticeships@nhs.net for further information.

Development opportunities for trust staff

We offer lots of opportunities for our staff to develop and gain qualifications, helping to progress their careers. Our staff apprenticeships provide the perfect opportunity to do this, whilst still working in post.

We offer apprenticeships at 4 different levels:

• Intermediate level - Apprentices follow work-based learning towards level 2 - equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grades A*. These provide the skills you need for your chosen career and enable you to progress to an advanced level apprenticeship.
• Advanced level - Apprentices follow work-based learning towards level 3 - equivalent to 2 A-levels. To start this level of apprenticeship, you should ideally have five GCSEs (grade C or above) or have completed an intermediate level apprenticeship.
• Higher level - Apprentices follow work-based learning towards levels 4, 5,6 and 7 - equivalent to a foundation degree and above. To start this level of apprenticeship, you should ideally have 2 A-levels or have completed an advanced level apprenticeship.
• Degree level - Apprentices follow work-based learning towards levels 6 and 7 - equivalent to a full bachelor’s or master’s degree.

See below the wide range of apprenticeships we offer, and details of progression opportunities:

To apply for an apprenticeship or to find out more, please contact westherts.apprenticeships@nhs.net.

Example of a recent staff apprenticeship:

Catherine Paice had been working part-time in the recruitment team for a number of years when she decided to embark on a staff apprenticeship, to gain her CIPD level 3 qualification. Due to childcare commitments, Catherine decided an 18-month upskilling apprenticeship would suit her and her lifestyle best.

Throughout the apprenticeship, she continued her role as a recruitment on-boarder and remained on the same pay scale; however, she spent one day a month studying at West Herts College and was entitled to six hours of study leave a week (full time staff are entitled to 7.5 hours a week).

Since finishing the CIPD level 3, Catherine has been promoted and is excelling in her new role. Catherine now has the opportunity to complete the CIPD level 5 (as a further development apprenticeship) should she wish to.