NHS apprenticeships provide routes into a variety of careers, including many in the NHS, and offer the opportunity to earn, learn and achieve nationally recognised qualifications at the same time.
They are for people looking for a job that enables them to carry on learning, and for those already in employment who want to gain further qualifications.
The majority of employers advertise their job vacancies on NHS Jobs.
What is available?
NHS apprenticeships may be offered by individual NHS employers (such as trusts and health authorities), and by other non-NHS employers and organisations.
NHS apprenticeships are offered in many different types of work, grouped in occupational sectors. We’ve listed below some of the apprenticeships that could be relevant to the NHS, but other sectors are also available.
- Administration and human resources (including business administration)
- Construction (including bricklaying, wall and floor tiling, carpentry and joinery, floor covering, painting and decorating, building technician, and plastering)
- Customer services and retail (including contact centres and customer service)
- Electrical and engineering (including building services, heating and ventilating, mechanical engineering)
- Financial services (including accounting and payroll)
- Hospitality and travel (including hospitality and catering)
- Information technology and communications (including IT user, marketing and communications)
- Logistics (including purchasing and supply management, warehousing and storage)
- Management
- Property (including cleaning and support service industry)
- Public services (including dental nursing, health and social care, pharmacy assistants and pharmacy technicians)
You can read some case studies of staff who have entered the NHS through an apprenticeship. Ben Yeates 
did an engineering apprenticeship; Paul Mallett did one as a dental technician; Dave Martin followed an apprenticeship in dental therapy and John Wheeler in painting and decorating.
What happens at the end of the NHS apprenticeship?
If your apprenticeship is with the NHS itself or another employer, then you may be offered permanent employment at the end of the apprenticeship period. You should always check with your apprenticeship provider to find out exactly what they are offering.
If you want to work for the NHS and have completed a relevant apprenticeship with another employer, then you can search for job vacancies by visiting the NHS Jobs website. When you see a vacancy that interests you, check the person specification to ensure that your experience and qualifications meet the criteria stated.
Some components of apprenticeships attract UCAS points and can lead onto a university course such as a foundation degree. Check with the apprenticeship provider for details.
How do I find out more about NHS apprenticeships?
For an overview of apprenticeships in the NHS in England, click here. For general information about apprenticeships in England and to search for vacancies in your local area, visit the National Apprenticeships website here.
