About Us
Our small team supports more than 275 apprentices across the Trust. The Team work hard to ensure that our apprenticeship offer continues to expand, with new apprenticeship Standards launching annually.
We can support initial apprenticeship enquiries, research training provision, facilitate introductory meetings and manage contracting requirements. We can support recruitment activities and will carefully monitor apprentice on boarding.
Our Progressions Officers support the pastoral interests of all our apprentices, including wellbeing support and providing advice and guidance, and the wider Team are on hand to support Managers and Educators with any issues and concerns.
We are committed to supporting the development of all staff, both clinical and non-clinical, and work to ensure that there are new and exciting opportunities for those who want to progress their career via an apprenticeship pathway.
Wendy Earl, Apprenticeships Lead
“I am a huge advocate for apprenticeships and am really proud of the Trust’s apprenticeship ambition and achievements.
I work with Departments and Teams on all Hospital sites to introduce apprenticeships to the workforce, helping them to realise apprenticeship plans and to support wider workforce development and talent management. Working within the Trust is challenging at the best of times, and I am in awe of our amazing apprentices who manage to juggle work, study and their personal lives to achieve their development aspirations. I am incredibly proud of each and every successful apprentice achiever and appreciate how much they contribute to our vision of attracting the best people, and valuing and developing them so that we can deliver outstanding care”
Rebecca Pinney, Senior Apprenticeships Officer
“I am a firm advocate for apprenticeships, as they are a great way to gain a really diverse range of skills for free whilst earning a salary. Apprenticeships are also a fantastic way of supporting our future workforce, both for new staff and for existing staff looking for career development opportunities. High-quality apprenticeships promote continued education, can offer enhanced career earnings and give apprentices richer, more fulfilled working lives.
We offer a range of apprenticeships at many levels, allowing staff to enter at a suitable stage based on their qualifications and aspirations. I would strongly recommend an apprenticeship to anyone looking for development; they can be challenging at times, as you are balancing work and study, however the rewards are numerous and there is great support from the team and the wider Trust. One of the key aspects of my role is monitoring our apprentices’ progress, to ensure they are making progress and I regularly meet with a range of programme providers to achieve this. I also meet with prospective providers and facilitate meetings between them and commissioning officers in the Trust for any new programmes we are considering and subsequently arrange the contracts.”
Lucy Green, Progressions Officer at Bedford Hospital
“I have worked with the apprentices for a long time and I love my job.
They work really hard under a lot of pressure and I have regular quarterly meetings with them to discuss how they are getting on and support them with any issues they may be having. Although we have regular set meetings, I do encourage them to come and see me as soon as they have any concerns which could impact on their apprenticeship, so that we can resolve it as soon as possible.
Throughout the duration of their apprenticeship you can see their confidence and skills improve. They work really hard under a lot of pressure both at work and at home and when they finally graduate I am always so proud of them all and the achievements they have earned.”
Michelle Jenner, Progressions Officer at Luton and Dunstable Hospital
“My role as a Progressions Officer at the Luton site enables me to meet with all of the apprentices at Luton and offer them Wellbeing/Pastoral support, I have worked in the Trust for twenty years and have worked clinically and non-clinically and also completed apprenticeships as well so feel I have a good understanding of the positives and difficulties that working for the NHS can bring. I truly hope that I can help and support staff to achieve and progress within their roles and I very much enjoy meeting with them and seeing them progress and be that listening ear that may make all the difference to their completion.”
For Apprenticeship enquires please contact: Apprenticeships@bedsft.nhs.uk