Health Education England has continued to develop innovative support for employers to ensure its apprenticeship programme continues on course despite the pandemic.

The organisation has reported that there has been more than 22,000 NHS Apprenticeship starts to date this academic year. These apprentices make a huge contribution to the delivery of essential services across the NHS in front line clinical and non-clinical roles, and each and everyone of them has made a difference and are still making a difference to the continuing delivery of care and clinical services, during the pandemic.

HEE has helped support employees in developing their Skills for Life (numeracy, literacy, digital skills) with over 7,000 learners nationally accessing HEE Talent for Care funded functional skills software. The NHS body has also worked closely with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education to ensure our apprentices, including those in nursing roles, could still qualify in a timely way and be able to take up their new role in delivering service, at a time of great need.

Laura Roberts, director of Skills Development and Participation said: “As we celebrate National Apprentice week this week I am proud to say that HEE has continued to work with employers, training providers and other stakeholders and supporters to ensure our apprentices have the best possible support to continue their learning, and as far as possible stay on programme during this pandemic.”