NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) and Health Education England (HEE) are challenging NHS employers and wholly owned subsidiaries to create 1,000 new apprenticeship starts in estates and facilities (E&F) roles in the next 12 months. The initiative is also being supported through a strategic partnership with online recruitment specialist, indeed.com.
The target is more than double the current yearly average of 450 apprenticeships across all roles. It will include apprenticeships that upskill existing staff, as well as new staff joining the workforce, using funding available through the Apprenticeship Levy.
NHSE/I and HEE have developed a supportive toolkit to help employers achieve this challenge. In addition, by using the vacancy portal, vacancy adverts will be optimised through the unique recruitment support offer with indeed.com, which will see all E&F vacancies promoted across the site nationally and within the relevant local areas. The partnership also means indeed.com will assist with elevating the profile of E&F roles and providing advice on topics such as job content and diversity, inclusion and belonging.
NHSE/I is asking leaders and managers to consider making apprenticeships part of their workforce plans for both new and existing staff, and redesigning vacancies to include an apprenticeship opportunity.
As well as the Apprenticeship Toolkit, dedicated support and guidance from the Estates and Facilities Project Support Team is also available, including targeted campaigns to help encourage staff to get involved with the challenge and support them to develop their skills.
Employers taking part in the challenge will be helping to raise the profile of E&F apprenticeships and sharing vacancies with wider stakeholders in their region, thus attracting a bigger talent pool of applicants.
Full details of the Apprenticeship Challenge are available here.
