Apprenticeships

As a healthcare employer, we recognise the value apprentices bring to our workforce. They provide a vital pathway for nurturing fresh talent while supporting the development of existing staff. Apprenticeship education programmes are a key part of the Government’s commitment to building a stronger future for the country.

At University Hospitals of Leicester, we employ apprentices and also serve as an apprenticeship training provider. We offer a range of programmes to staff and to other health and social care employers.

What is an apprenticeship? 

An Apprenticeship Education Programme is a structured, work-based training and development pathway designed to meet the needs of employers. It combines practical experience with academic learning and leads to nationally recognised qualifications. Apprenticeships are a key part of the Government’s strategy to support skills development and drive economic recovery.

Apprenticeships offer a way to:

• Develop the skills of local people
• Bring young people into the workforce
• Involve the local community in delivering services
• Development opportunities for staff, and grow the future workforce
• Improve staff morale, productivity, and retention
• Support succession planning within organisations

Apprenticeships are available at different levels and are equivalent to familiar qualifications:

• Level 2 (intermediate): Equivalent to 5 GCSEs
• Level 3 (advanced): Equivalent to 2 A levels
• Level 4 (higher): Equivalent to a Foundation Degree
• Level 5 (higher): Equivalent to a Foundation Degree or Diploma of Higher Education
• Level 6 (degree): Equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree

Staff new to the Trust will be employed on an Apprenticeship contract so that they have an opportunity to ‘earn while they learn’. Existing staff can develop their careers through these funded training programmes without changing their employment terms and conditions. 

Since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy — funds collected from large organisations to support apprenticeship training and assessment — over 2000 UHL staff have taken the opportunity to develop their careers through programmes such as:

• Assistant Practitioner
• Associate Project Manager
• Business Administrator
• Customer Service Practitioner 
• Data Analyst / Data Technician
• Digital Solutions Professional
• Fundraiser
• Healthcare Science
• Health (Levels 2–6)
• Hospitality (Levels 2–4)
• Improvement Practitioner
• Leadership (Levels 5–6)
• Learning and Skills Mentor
• Medical Engineering
• Nursing Associate / Nursing Degree
• Occupational Therapy
• Pharmacy services
• Physiotherapy
• Procurement
• Professional Coaching
• Security Operations
• Team Leader (Level 3)

This list highlights just some of the programmes currently in use across our organisation. Our apprenticeship offer is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of our workforce and ensure we continue to grow and develop talent for the future.