NHS Lanarkshire is thrilled to welcome our latest group of Modern Apprentices, that joined us last month.
These young individuals, aged 16-24, have embarked on an exciting journey in various roles, including healthcare support workers, clerical assistants, and IT information assistants. This programme offers a fantastic opportunity for them to earn while they learn, developing essential skills and gaining hands-on experience that will pave the way for successful careers.
For NHS Lanarkshire, these apprentices bring fresh energy and talent to our workforce, enhancing our team’s diversity while contributing to succession planning across our services. The programme also highlights our commitment as an active anchor organisation as it promotes access to quality jobs, reducing poverty and inequalities in our local community.
We are proud to partner with New College Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire College (for the first time), and QA Ltd, who deliver the educational qualifications that underpin the apprenticeships. Additionally, we are immensely grateful to our NHS managers who open their departments to host and mentor the apprentices.
In their roles, the apprentices receive valuable support from their buddies and colleagues, as well as from our dedicated Employability Team. This team offers one-on-one guidance, helping apprentices with career planning, setting goals, and running networking sessions on focused topics. These sessions provide an opportunity for apprentices to connect with peers and share experiences as they progress through their programmes.
Last year, we welcomed 19 apprentices in the August cohort, with many now continuing their careers within NHS Lanarkshire. Reflecting on his journey, one apprentice from this cohort shared: “The support from the Employability team has been absolutely phenomenal. I’ve grown so much, both personally and professionally, and the focus on self-development was invaluable. It’s been an amazing experience.”
Our new apprentices began their journey with a week-long induction facilitated by the Employability Team before joining their respective departments. During this induction, they met their buddies, participated in NHS-specific training on platforms like LearnPro, and engaged in team-building activities and workshops focused on employability skills such as social media awareness, learning styles, and study skills. We were also joined by internal and external partners who delivered sessions on key topics like team roles, mental health awareness, and occupational health services.
The induction week was a great success, with very positive feedback received from the apprentices. A strong sense of camaraderie emerged, highlighted by the apprentices setting up a group chat to maintain communication and support one another—an essential part of the programme’s peer-to-peer focus.
We look forward to seeing our apprentices flourish in their new roles as we continue to support them through one-on-one visits and ongoing networking sessions.
Good luck to all of our apprentices as they embark on this exciting chapter in their careers!
