In the wake of a significant National Apprenticeship Week, Edge Hill University is intensifying its efforts to broaden access to professional healthcare training. The institution is facilitating the transition from academic settings to clinical environments for students from diverse backgrounds, spanning operating theatres to general practitioner surgeries.
Celebrating Achievements in Nurse Associate Apprenticeships
Students enrolled in the nurse associate apprenticeship program have been gaining hands-on experience in hospitals, GP practices, and community bases while pursuing their studies at Edge Hill. Recently, they gathered to mark the completion of their two-year foundation degree.
Nurse associates collaborate closely with registered nurses, providing care for patients with less complex conditions across four key nursing fields: adult, child, learning disabilities, and mental health.
University Leadership on Apprenticeship Impact
Dr. Jane Rooney, the apprenticeship lead for the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine, emphasized the university's role. "As a civic university with a historic commitment to widening participation, we are supporting students from non-traditional backgrounds to pursue the careers they’ve dreamed of," she stated.
"They are earning while studying so there isn’t the same financial burden and they know they have a job lined up when they graduate. We are also supporting the NHS 10-year plan which highlights the importance of apprenticeships in upskilling the workforce by providing alternative routes into health professions."
Diverse Apprenticeship Offerings and Student Experiences
Edge Hill University extends its apprenticeship programs to include operating department practice (ODP), advanced clinical practice, and nursing. Holly Cottom, an ODP apprentice, shared her journey: "The apprenticeship has been a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience."
"I have developed resilience, clinical competence, and a strong professional identity while balancing the demands of work and university life. The support from mentors, lecturers, and colleagues has been highly beneficial, and overcoming challenges along the way has made the achievement even more meaningful."
She added, "This experience has shaped my future career by providing clear professional direction and a strong foundation in perioperative practice, reinforcing my commitment to healthcare and preparing me to transition confidently into a qualified operating department practitioner role and beyond."
Ensuring Quality and Collaboration
The apprenticeships at Edge Hill undergo rigorous assessment and scrutiny by government bodies, the NHS, and Ofsted, ensuring the highest standards of teaching and learning. Collaboration with NHS partners, such as Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and Wigan, Wrightington and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, confirms clinical excellence.
To further enhance support, Dr. Rooney has established a new 'Edge Together' forum. This initiative brings together partners from all apprenticeship programs with university representatives to foster mutual support and student success.
"We want to support our professional partners and our students, and this new forum will enable us all to share good practice and discuss challenges and how to overcome them in a safe, informal space," she explained.
"I’m really passionate about apprenticeships. They provide practical, skills-based opportunities for those who might not otherwise have had the chance, and that’s what we’re really good at here at Edge Hill."
