NHS apprenticeships bring talent centre stage

An apprenticeship proved the right prescription for Georgina Brown (pictured), a pre-registration pharmacy technician, who is just months away from completing her course and becoming qualified.

Georgina, 31-years-old from Herne Bay, first joined KCHFT’s Sexual Health Service almost 10 years ago, working as part of the reception team before discovering an interest in pharmacy work.

Georgina said: “While working in sexual health, I had the opportunity to take on more hours supporting the Pharmacy Service. It turned out to be a great opportunity and I found the work fascinating and rewarding. I learned a lot about HIV treatment and it set me on a path into pharmacy, which I hadn’t even considered before.”

When a vacancy came up at KCHFT for a pre-registration pharmacy technician, Georgina eagerly applied. The role involved enrolling in the Pharmacy Technician Training Programme, a two-year apprenticeship supported through KCHFT’s learning and development programme.

With only a few months left to complete her apprenticeship, Georgina is on the cusp of becoming a registered pharmacy technician.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” Georgina shared. “Through the apprenticeship, I’ve gained hands-on experience in our community hospitals, consulting with patients about managing their medications at home. I’ve also spent time outside KCHFT in hospital-based pharmacies dispensing medications.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have had such a well-rounded learning experience and I am so grateful to my colleagues in the community hospitals and the wider pharmacy team. I’ve seen first-hand how diverse and impactful a pharmacy technician’s role can be. Pharmacy is such an interesting and varied area of healthcare and you truly feel like you're making a difference to people’s lives. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next.”

Rewriting the script

Hekla Svavarsdottir, 31-years-old from Canterbury, led drama and music sessions for adults with learning disabilities at Camp America before becoming a teaching assistant and discovering speech and language therapy.

Hekla explained: “I used to watch the speech and language therapists in school and was completely in awe of the impact they were making. The way they helped children communicate and express themselves inspired me, I started researching opportunities and came across an advert for a therapy assistant role at KCHFT."

Hekla successfully applied for the position and everything ‘clicked into place’ from then on.

She said: "I quickly adapted to the role and it felt natural to me. My background in performing arts complemented my work. It gave me a unique skillset which I could bring to the table."

On returning from maternity leave, Hekla saw an advertisement for an apprenticeship in speech and language therapy and successfully applied.

As an apprentice, Hekla balances practical work experience with academic study. Upon completing the four-year course, she’ll be a fully qualified speech and language therapist.

Hekla said: "Many people go to university without a clear idea of their career goals, especially at a young age. Apprenticeships offer a great alternative. They allow you to learn on the job and be certain you're on the right path. I'm now diving deeper into the theory behind my work and everything is falling into place."

More than 300 KCHFT colleagues are enrolled across 67 different learning programmes, including 31 apprenticeship routes.

Victoria Robinson-Collins, Chief People Officer at KCHFT, said: “Offering everything from entry-level training to Master’s degrees, we’ve supported 465 apprentices since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in 2017, with more than half of them securing promotions during or after their apprenticeship. Apprenticeships have proven invaluable to us by bringing in individuals with diverse skills and experiences. By welcoming such a wide range of talents, we not only drive innovation but also provide truly rewarding, lifelong careers.”