New horizons: Meet the apprentices making a difference in our hospitals

RISING HIGH: Hospitals trust apprentice Saskia Hiatt, who paints Withernsea Lighthouse in her spare time

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) is shining a spotlight on just some of the people working in all aspects of health care at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.

From finance managers and painters to student nurses and trainee scientists, its apprentices get their careers off to a flying start when they join after leaving school, sixth-form colleges, or simply after wishing to pursue a change in direction.

Since its programme launched in 2013, Anne Burdis and Debbie Elton, who spearhead the apprenticeship scheme, have supported more than 400 people onto apprenticeship programmes across more than 30 different departments and directorates.

Anne said: “It’s an absolute privilege to be able to support our colleagues to grow our future workforce through apprenticeships.

“For every new apprentice we recruit, there are at least 15 people working in the background to get them into their posts.

“We are also proud of the huge commitment existing colleagues make in balancing apprenticeship study, work and home life, especially during these challenging times.”

The theme for this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is Building the Future, and the trust has been doing exactly that, growing its workforce from the foundation upwards through the “incredible” support of its colleagues - the faces behind the masks on the picture below.

Throughout the week, from February 7 to February 13, profiles of just some of its successful apprentices will be showcased on our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The trust will be sharing their stories and highlighting the staff who champion the apprenticeship programme, supporting our apprentices in their roles as they take the first steps in their careers or progress in their chosen fields.

They include apprentices like Bethanie Ireland, a trainee nursing associate in the Emergency Department at Hull Royal Infirmary.

She works in her role for 30 hours each week, taking patient observations, assisting clinical teams on medication rounds, and taking blood samples under supervision. She also studies 7.5 hours to learn the theory as part of her qualification.

“I’ve lived in Hull my whole life and always wanted from a young age to go into nursing,” she said.

AMBITION: Trainee nursing associate Bethanie Ireland

“I applied for the trainee nursing associate post as I wanted to better myself while still working and without the stress of a university debt.

“I work within accident and emergency, hoping to specialise in emergency medicine. No two days are ever the same and we never know what could come through the doors.”

Another is Robert Dyer, who has worked his way up through four promotions to his current position as finance manager with the Imaging and Specialist Services division, just seven years after beginning his apprenticeship.

Unsure of what he wanted to do after leaving sixth-form, Robert joined HUTH as an apprentice finance assistant, supported by the Education and Development team.

They smoothed his path from education into the workplace, and he achieved his AAT qualification while building up valuable experience.

FOUR PROMOTIONS: Robert Hyatt, now a finance manager after completing his apprenticeship

After completing his apprenticeship, Robert was able to land a full-time job with the trust, and was supported by his team to achieve his chartered accountancy ACCA qualification.

Robert said: “I would wholeheartedly recommend the apprenticeship route. It not only grows you professionally but personally too and the value in that is immeasurable.”

Saskia Hiatt works for the trust’s Estates Team after she secured an apprenticeship at the end of her painting and decorating Level 2 course.

She takes pride in her work, ensuring the hospitals and departments look as good as possible for patients. As well as her work for the trust, Saskia also volunteers to paint Withernsea Lighthouse in her spare time.

Debbie Elton said: “We’re incredibly proud of Saskia and her hard work and dedication are a credit to her.”