More Did You Know...

Age: 21

Job Title: Borough Apprentice

Lives: Swanley

Place of Work: Orpington Hospital, Kent

Educational Background: GCSEs; A-Levels & currently studying for NVQ Level 3 Bus Admin

Background

I had left school with 11 GCSEs and 3 A-levels but was in need of a break from education so whilst friends went away to university I started applying for jobs.

I secured a position in a business administration role at a local company and was happy to be in the world of work and earning a wage. I stayed there for two years and was fundamentally happy. Then I discovered the post of Borough Apprentice through a friend who worked at Orpington Hospital.

Why the NHS?

I guess the reason I started looking around for other jobs was that having been out of education for some time I wanted to broaden what I was doing and the chance to study alongside a job meant that I could continue to enhance my qualifications without having to re-enter full time education. The modern apprenticeship with the NHS has been great in this respect; I spend 4 days a week at work and a day (still being paid) at college where the NVQ Level 3 Business Administration course tutors help me to bring together the practical work I do for the NHS with the assignments required for the course.

The Job Itself

So, what have I been doing since I arrived here? Well the work has varied enormously. The things I have enjoyed most have been the big projects that really make a difference. This includes the roll-out of a new school work experience structure and review programme. Whilst we already had work experience students coming each year to sample life in a working hospital, we had no real idea how many places we could offer in the various departments and no way of knowing how successful the placements had been. I worked with each of the departments to understand what suitable work experience placements were available and designed a survey to asses how good they were, both from the hospital’s side and the school person’s. We can now approach schools to let them know what work placements exist and which roles will suit certain types of student.

In another area of the organisation I am involved in an initiative to launch e-learning across the borough – we are in the very early stages of this, which means it is a great chance to work on a project right from the start that will allow me to develop knowledge and skills in an area I currently know nothing about. The first step has been to work towards my ECDL – European Computer Driving Licence, which I should achieve soon. This is funded and organised as part of my NVQ course which is fantastic, and it is recognised throughout Europe - a great transferable qualification to have.

So, these are just a few of the major initiatives I am involved in which see me in roles that I wouldn’t have even considered I could fill a year ago.

Part of a Great Team

My colleagues are wonderful to work with and give me the support and the benefit of their experience that I need to put the methods from my course into practice every day. I have a full Knowledge Skills Framework assessment, just as any other NHS employee, that allows me to plan a genuine career path within the organisation – it is much more structured than in my previous job.

I would recommend anyone who is finishing school or 6th form college and is unsure of what they should do next - whether to go to work or stay in education - to consider a modern apprenticeship with the NHS.

I am working within the HR and Training & Development function of Bromley Hospitals and the Primary Care Trust, but apprenticeships are available in other areas such as finance.

I feel really lucky to have had this opportunity, and what’s more when I finish the apprenticeship Bromley Hospitals will continue to employ me in a permanent position.

If you think a modern apprenticeship with the NHS would be a good choice for you then contact NHS careers and find out more.

Good Luck!

Nikki