National Apprenticeship Week takes place this year from 7 to 13 February. The week is an annual opportunity to celebrate apprenticeships and showcase the positive differences that apprenticeships can make on individuals, employers and the wider economy.
At Benenden Hospital we offer apprenticeships to our clinical and non-clinical employees with a variety of development programmes and this is a way to make someone’s dream become their reality.
Over the past three years we have supported individuals to complete the following apprenticeships:
- Level 2 Commis Chef
- Level 2 Customer Service Practitioner
- Level 3 Team Leader
- Level 4 Continuous Quality Improvement Practitioner
- Level 5 Nursing Associate programme
What are the benefits of an apprenticeship?
One of the biggest benefits of an apprenticeship is that it combines a paid job with part-time learning and studies. If you have the ambition for a particular career- an apprenticeship could be the right choice for you!
What will you get out of it:
- Gain experience and skills that employers want
- Earn a nationally recognised qualification
- Enjoy a salary of at least the apprentice minimum wage
- Pay no learning costs, debt or student finance
- Receive all employee benefits
- Benefits all ages
- Meet new people and challenges
Catering Assistant, Carla Roome recently completed her Commis Chef apprenticeship. She said of the opportunity: “I thoroughly enjoyed the learning process with all the hands-on activities and having taster sessions. I would like to say thank you to Benenden Hospital for giving me this opportunity and also a huge thank you to the Catering Team and managers for their continued support, motivation and believing in me.”
Jane Styche, Eye Unit Sister, achieved her apprenticeship in Leadership and Management and recommends others to apply for the programme. Jane says: "For anyone considering an apprenticeship, I would absolutely recommend it. I can’t guarantee an easy ride, but with focus, some self-learning and the benefit of a supportive manager and wider organisation, it is a great opportunity and one that I would encourage my colleagues to really consider.”
In addition to this, we have seen the value of recruiting external people to complete apprenticeships at Benenden Hospital. Over the past two years, we have welcomed two apprentices into our IT department.
This has been a success as one of the apprentices, Ryan Igglesden, gained his IT apprenticeship and has now secured a permanent position to begin a career in IT. Ryan said: “I started my role at Benenden Hospital as an IT Apprentice and l was amazed when I found out I had passed with a Distinction grade! I was very happy with this result and still can’t believe it.”
Our Level 5 Nursing Associate programme has proven to be a popular route to nursing and enhancing existing skills over the past couple of years.
After seven years of working at our hospital, Mollie Yates applied for the Nursing Associate Programme. “I saw it as a chance to progress my career whilst being able to stay at Benenden Hospital. By getting this opportunity to do the course, it has allowed me to start my journey to one day becoming a Registered Nurse.”
Sasha Carlton began her career working on reception, after completing her Nursing Associate Programme, she now plans to become a fully registered nurse. “I’m excited to see what other opportunities Benenden Hospital has to offer in terms of further courses and training and to explore all areas of nursing.”
Join us as we celebrate our hospital’s exciting training opportunities and inspire others to follow in the footsteps of our amazing staff team.
If would like to find out more about the apprenticeships available to you, please contact us by email at kentcareers@benenden.org.uk.
Published on 07 February 2022