Apprenticeships at LTHT

Apprenticeship scheme proves the sky’s the limit for LTHT apprentices

In just three years, a new way of thinking and recruiting has made Leeds Teaching Hospitals one of the largest apprenticeship employer in the NHS, where all who complete their courses get jobs.

The Trust has more than 900 apprentices across 40 different programmes covering a vast range of career paths. From cleaning, clinical support and pharmacy to radiography, physiotherapy or a masters level in accountancy, the Trust has radically transformed its apprenticeship offer. An innovative approach to recruitment lies at the heart of this success, as Robyn Swain, Head of People Development at the Trust, explains. “When recruiting apprentices, we look for people to want to work here because they care,” said Robyn. “Rather than focusing on what qualifications or experience applicants may have, we are more interested in how they would fit in with our Leeds Way values. We’re finding that this approach gives us people who are more likely to complete their course and stay with us because they want to be here.” She added: “We’ve worked hard with Leeds City College to understand how best to recruit people and how courses should be run. We pay apprentices at a far higher rate than the national level and way beyond the living wage. We offer them clear options for their careers and we match them to job vacancies once they complete their courses.” For people with no qualifications or work experience – especially those living in the city’s most deprived areas - applying for an apprenticeship may seem out of reach. To mitigate this, the Trust works closely with Leeds City Council and other local organisations to provide pre-employment support, ranging from help with job applications and IT skills to understanding how recruitment works. More than 80 per cent of those taking part go on to become apprentices. “As an ‘anchor’ institution we have a duty to support the wellbeing of local people. By providing training and employment, especially for those in more deprived areas, we are helping reduce inequalities,” explained Robyn. This means, within seven years, someone can go from having no qualifications to being a registered nurse. It gives the successful apprentice the same qualifications as those who complete a university degree, but without the university costs.