“Supportive, flexible and informative” is how Robert Hopwood described his apprenticeship journey at our trust.
To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, Rob told us how his apprenticeship helped him gain a full-time job.
Fresh out of university, Robert, 23, was seeking a role where he could develop practical skills in a professional environment.
His apprenticeship consisted of workshops and learning sessions on administrative skills, business fundamentals and project management.
These courses developed his knowledge, skills and behaviours – helping him build a portfolio evidencing professional development and the completion of an improvement project.
After completing his apprenticeship, Rob was able to advance his career within the trust and secured a full-time job as a quality compliance administrator within South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2023.
Rob said: “Apprenticeships are a good way to develop key skills and earn practical experience within a specific field or profession.
Determine what knowledge, skills and behaviours you are seeking to develop and look for an apprenticeship that will allow for focused development in a chosen profession.”
Reflecting back, Rob credited the valuable experience he gained during his two year apprenticeship as the reason he gained his current role.
“I had significant support from colleagues during my apprenticeship and received tutoring regarding key administrative processes during the early stages of my professional development and was provided flexibility regarding how I approached the apprenticeship coursework.
“I was also able to assist other teams and areas outside of an administrative capacity, such as communications, which helped to provide supplementary skills and experience and introduced me to alternative career progression opportunities,” added Rob.