New NHS apprenticeships - 100,000 of them - are to be set up by 2020, creating jobs for thousands of young people who want to work in the UK health sector.

This commitment follows the launch of the Government consultation to create new NHS apprenticeships for 2.3 per cent of workers in large public sector bodies. The new NHS apprenticeships will be created in a range of areas, including:

• Nursing and healthcare
• IT, estates and facilities
• Domestic and housekeeping services
• Business administration and accounting

Health minister’s comments on new NHS apprenticeships

Health Minister Ben Gummer said, “As one of the largest employers in the world, I am immensely proud that the NHS is leading the way in offering thousands of aspiring young people the opportunity to become an apprentice. The new NHS apprenticeships scheme will mean existing NHS staff can have the opportunity to try a new role or enhance their current role.”

Mr. Gummer added, “This apprenticeship plan, along with the £10 billion we have invested to back the NHS’s own plans for the future, will ensure staff have the opportunity to develop their careers in both existing and also new and exciting roles such as nursing associates. We can’t have a strong NHS without a strong economy and this government is committed to creating more jobs and opportunities for Britain.”

Promoting new NHS apprenticeships

To promote the new NHS apprenticeships, the Government hopes to build on work already taking place across England. Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for example, has linked up with its local colleges to encourage students to take up healthcare assistant roles and over half of the 24 trainees they took on have stayed working within the NHS Foundation Trust, and only three have left to pursue a career outside of the healthcare system

North Bristol NHS Trust has developed a strong partnership with its local Jobcentre Plus and now employs 20 trainees who are employed in a range of new NHS apprenticeship roles, including administration and payroll.

New NHS apprenticeships to improve diversity

It is hoped that these new NHS apprenticeships will support the NHS commitment to employing more young people and improving diversity within the workforce.

This drive for new NHS apprenticeships was backed by ministers when they announced the introduction of the new nursing associate apprenticeship, in December 2015. It is anticipated that up to 1,000 people could be trained in this new nursing support role from 2016.