Health sector apprenticeships in the spotlight as new resources go online

New online resources to help employers, learners and training providers explore the benefits of health sector apprenticeships are launched today. Skills for Health’s website now provides details of more than 80 health sector apprenticeship roles and shows how they can be used to help tackle recruitment difficulties and improve the skills of existing staff. The resource also offers learners an opportunity to explore the career benefits of apprenticeships, which offer structured training and development for existing staff as well as new recruits. Government skills policy has signalled the need for a significant expansion in apprenticeships and Skills for Health is working with healthcare employers and training providers to promote wider take-up within the sector. Today’s launch gives employers, learners and training providers a single source of information on the benefits of health sector apprenticeships together with practical advice and guidance on setting up or accessing a programme. Resources include a database that allows users to search across the full range of health sector apprenticeships. These currently number more than 80 and include roles in clinical support as well as corporate services and estates and facilities. Many of the materials available on the new resource can be customised for local use by employers, and all are free to use. For further information, visit www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/apprenticeships ENDS Media contacts: Dominic Moody, Press & PR Manager Tel. 0117 910 3853, mobile 0776 818 8994 dominic.moody@skillsforhealth.org.uk Notes to editors 1. Apprenticeships are part of a national programme of government-funded training to raise the skill levels of people in employment. An apprenticeship is a framework of nationally-recognised qualifications that are a mixture of work-based training and education. The frameworks, which are managed by Sector Skills Councils, give learners the opportunity to achieve vocational, work-based qualifications; learn the practical skills and knowledge necessary to carry out specific work roles; and progress within specific careers and educational pathways. 2. Employers can choose to get involved in Apprenticeship programmes in a variety of ways and the level of their involvement can vary according to the business priorities of the organisation. 3. Skills for Health is the Sector Skills Council for the UK healthcare sector, encompassing the National Health Services, independent healthcare providers and voluntary organisations. Its purpose is to help develop solutions that can deliver a skilled and flexible workforce to improve health and healthcare. Skills for Health was relicensed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 14 October 2009 following an assessment by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and the National Audit Office.