Devon NHS wins wins award for Apprentices

A Devon NHS organisation has won an award for its work in promoting the recruitment of apprentices.

The Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning group (NEW Devon CCG) scooped the Education Training Skills (ETS) Large Employer of the Year Award at a ceremony at the Buckerell Lodge in Exeter on 4 March.

It was a double success for the NHS organisation on the night after Howard Stamp, acting safety systems officer with the nursing directorate, also won the ETS Apprentice of the Year for Outstanding Contribution Award.

The two awards coincide with National Apprenticeship Week which takes place from 3-7 March.

Chris Squire, the head of workforce, said: “We are proud to have won this award. It reflects the great work apprentices do for us day in day out.”

Since 2010 the CCG’s Devon Referral Support Services (DRSS), which manages GP referrals into hospitals and other NHS services, has employed 50 apprentices, 49 of which still work for the NHS in some capacity.

The CCG’s work with apprentices at the DRSS has led to other apprentices employed throughout the organisation. Out of the CCG’s workforce of 420, five per cent of staff are current apprentices and nearly 15 per cent are current or former apprentices.

Mr Squire said employing so many apprentices had been made possible thanks to a really good recruitment framework, the will to recruit apprentices throughout the entire organisation and the performance and enthusiasm of the apprentices.

He added: “Our centre of excellence is our referral centre, which developed the way we recruit and retain apprentices. On the back of this work, apprentices are now recruited and proving themselves across the CCG.”

Howard Stamp, 21, is one of three young apprentices working for the CCG’s department responsible for patient safety and quality to have taken to social media this week to promote apprenticeships.

Along with fellow apprentices Nikki Stafford, 20, and Georgina Catling, 23, he decided to spread the word of how the three of them benefited from an apprenticeship with the NHS.

He said: “I am pleased to have won this award. I am just one of many apprentices employed by the CCG but I hope this will encourage others to seek apprenticeship opportunities available with organisations like NEW Devon.

“The CCG and my apprenticeship mentors at ETS have given me such fantastic support that has helped me with my job and most importantly helped me to put individuals at the centre of everything I do.”

Rebecca Harriott, NEW Devon CCG’s chief officer, said: “Congratulations to Howard and to everyone in our organisation for working with apprentices and nurturing their talent.  

““I’m very proud that our organisation has employed so many committed apprentices, most of them young people who are taking one of the first steps of their career. With apprentices NEW Devon CCG is investing in the future.

“Apprentices have a great deal to offer the NHS and we want to encourage young people who want a career in the NHS to consider this, whether that be at a hospital or clinical setting or in an administrative role.”

National apprenticeship week is now in it's 7th year and aims to promote the benefits of apprenticeships to both employers and young people.

Earlier this week  Plymouth Council apprentices brought a splash of colour to the city for the start of the “Making Waves” project, by displaying Starfish sculptures they had designed.

The six-month campaign got underway with a Skills Show Experience Day showcasing the city’s huge skill and talent. Hundreds of young people from local schools attended the event to get information and guidance on Apprenticeships and Traineeships.

Members of the public were able to find out more about Apprenticeships at Luton Mall today. The local council has set up an exhibition stand, which will remain for the week, for people to speak to apprentices and prospective employers.