Community

Albion to support NHS apprenticeship project

Club teams up with East Sussex College Group and NHS East Sussex.

By Bruce Talbot • 01 March 2021

By BHAFC
The project will see existing NHS staff take on new apprenticeship roles in February and March.

Patients in East Sussex are set to benefit from a project where NHS staff take on new apprenticeships, after Albion teamed up with East Sussex College Group and NHS East Sussex Training Hub to support internal training in local GP practices.

Sussex Skills Solutions, the apprenticeship and training arm of East Sussex College, is launching the new apprenticeship project, in collaboration with East Sussex Training Hub, the NHS team overseeing training for GP practices.

The project will see existing NHS staff take on new apprenticeship roles in February and March. These consist of five Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprentices, two Level 3 Business Administrator apprentices, two Level 5 Operations Departmental Manager apprentices, and one Level 3 Team Leader-Supervisor apprentice.

Rose Read, Brighton & Hove Albion's head of People and Culture, said, “When we heard of the opportunity to transfer our levy funding, via East Sussex College, we were delighted to be involved. Over the next two years or so we are keen to see how all the apprentices progress. As a levy employer, we are keen to help support other local employers so that the community has access to training opportunities.”

Dee Kellett, Primary Care workforce tutor from the NHS East Sussex Training Hub said, “Training hubs are multi-disciplinary networks of health, local authority and education providers with the purpose of providing sustainable workforce transformation, in primary care. We aim to develop all members of the primary care workforce so that they have the right skills to meet the evolving needs of patients.

“We are delighted Brighton & Hove Albion are supporting Primary Care by funding apprenticeships. The club can transfer 25% of this funding to smaller employers and has done this, allocating funding to GP practices in East Sussex.”

It comes at a welcome time, with the COVID-19 pandemic weighing heavily on the NHS and a shortage of healthcare support workers and nurses. The ten apprentices will continue their role working in practices, while gaining the apprenticeship qualification through Sussex Skills Solutions at East Sussex College. Those who do not have GCSE Maths and English, are also supported in achieving Functional Skills alongside their apprenticeships. 

These apprentices will be supporting the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and it is hoped that some will progress from healthcare workers to nurse roles, through a Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship.

Stephen Burkes, Director of Sussex Skills Solutions said, “We are so pleased to be working in partnership with Brighton & Hove Albion and the NHS East Sussex Training Hub to support local GP surgeries during this challenging time. We believe the qualifications will not only help the apprentices with their future career prospects, but also help them thrive in their existing job roles. Our qualified assessors are experts in their fields and we look forward to helping the apprentices gain all the relevant skills to succeed in their careers.”