Lancashire Teaching Hospitals’ partnership with Northumbria University has ended on a high, with the University winning Nursing Apprenticeship Provider of the Year at a dazzling Student Nursing Times awards at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on 26th April.
In March, the Trust completed our contract with Northumbria University to deliver a Registered Nurse Apprenticeship for the Lancashire and South Cumbria region. The partnership was initiated in September 2020 and has yielded remarkable success. The apprenticeship is a “top up” opportunity accessible to nursing associates and assistant practitioners, spanning an 18-month duration and culminating in NMC registration as a registered nurse.
Throughout the duration of our contract a total of 83 nurses have graduated through the partnership and secured registered nurse positions across the region, 38 of these nurses have taken up registered nurse positions within LTH.
Speaking on the success of the partnership, Head of Professional Education Development Kate Harrison: “It has truly been a pleasure collaborating with Northumbria University over the past four years. Together, we’ve facilitated the graduation of 83 nurses through our partnership, thanks to their invaluable support.
“It’s bittersweet to acknowledge that the commissioned work of this partnership has now concluded.”
Sarah Cullen added: “This collaboration has proven immensely successful, and I’m thrilled that LTH has provided invaluable support to our current nursing associate and assistant practitioner colleagues, enabling them to pursue training and education that has enabled them to become registered nurses.”
Dr Julie Derbyshire, Director of Apprenticeships and Assistant Professor in Nursing at Northumbria University, who represented the University at the awards, said: “These types of apprenticeship routes were brought in to help us, and other higher education establishments, offer an alternative route for individuals to become registered nurses and ultimately help to tackle the huge workforce shortage faced by the NHS at the moment.
“Our programme has been incredibly successful. Over a three-year period, 91% of our apprentices have achieved a first-class degree and 100% of those who completed the course secured employment. This is not only testament to the course quality but also a clear reflection of the enthusiasm, dedication, and work ethic of our students.
“To be able to say we’ve now added over 100 newly qualified nurses to the NHS is brilliant and is an incredibly strong foundation for us to build on. We’re looking forward to continuing to contribute to reducing the shortfall in nursing staff as we welcome future cohorts to Northumbria University.”
After being shortlisted for the awards, Northumbria held off competition from Buckinghamshire New University, Keele University, Manchester Metropolitan Unisversity, Univerity of Chester, University of Hertfordshire and University of Plymouth to claim the prize.
