NURSE LEADERS OF THE FUTURE ENROLL AT SPIRE THAMES VALLEY HOSPITAL
Spire’s nurse degree apprenticeship scheme is one of the largest in the country
As hundreds of thousands of students across the country begin their higher education studies at universities and colleges, 4 people have begun a nurse degree apprenticeship at Spire Thames Valley Hospital.
The 4 apprentices are part of a group of 165 apprentices who have been taken on by Spire Healthcare across the country, in one of the largest nurse degree apprenticeship programmes ever launched. The programme is designed to train healthcare leaders of the future, at a time when many nurses have left the profession following the pandemic, and there are skill shortages across all providers of healthcare.
The nurse degree apprenticeship is being run in partnership with the University of Sunderland and combines study and assessments with onsite placements to gain practical knowledge. The apprenticeship lasts between two and five years, depending on the individual’s prior experience, and apprentices gain a BSc degree on completion. Uniquely for a healthcare apprenticeship, training is provided at a national, rather than regional level.
The programme is open to applicants at all stages of life, including school leavers, university graduates and people looking to retrain. Spire Healthcare’s new apprentices range in age between 18 and 58.
Ella Dempster, a new apprentice at Spire Thames Valley hospital said: “I applied for the Spire nursing apprenticeship at the start of this year when it caught my attention immediately. Any experiences myself or my family have had in hospitals, nurses have always been the most memorable figures. I am incredibly keen to meet all of my co-workers in which I’ve already heard such wonderful things about. I’m really looking forward to face-to-face interactions (finally!) and being able to be part of such an incredible team!”
The appeal of apprenticeships has risen in recent years as an alternative to traditional university degree route, as a result of the increasing cost to students of going down the academic route.
About Spire Healthcare
Spire Healthcare is a leading independent hospital group in the United Kingdom, with 39 private hospitals and eight clinics across England, Wales and Scotland.
Working in partnership with around 7,500 experienced consultants, Spire Healthcare delivered tailored, personalised care to almost 750,000 inpatients, out-patients and daycase patients in 2020, and is the leading private provider, by volume, of knee and hip operations in the United Kingdom.
The Group’s well-located and scalable hospitals have delivered successful and award-winning clinical outcomes, positioning the Group well with patients, consultants, the NHS, GPs and Private Medical Insurance (“PMI”) providers. 90% of Spire Healthcare’s hospitals are rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC (or the equivalent in Scotland and Wales).
To learn more about recruitment at Spire Healthcare, visit https://www.spirehealthcare.com/recruitment/recruitment/
For further information contact 01753 665404.