NHS apprenticeships ‘to be trebled’

A total of £25,000 is set to be invested in creating 5,000 new NHS apprenticeships by March next year, it has been announced.

Health secretary Andy Burnham said that the funding is part of Gordon Brown’s commitment to increasing the number of apprenticeships in the public sector by 21,000.

Those involved in the schemes will receive on-the-job experience while also enhancing their own qualifications and contributing to the NHS workforce.

Speaking during a visit to Aintree Hospital yesterday, Mr Burnham, who is the Labour MP for Leigh, said the government is “totally committed” to being able to offer apprenticeships to young people.

“Our ambitious programme to more than treble the number of apprentices will create over 5,000 new apprenticeships in the NHS,” he added.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis stated that the investment is “the right move at the right time”, noting that the public sector has a key role to play in supporting people through the current period of economic uncertainty.