Royal Cornwall Hospital Wins Inaugural Department of Education National Apprenticeship and Skills Award

Published On: 24 October 2024Last Updated: 24 October 2024By CornishStuff

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) has won the prestigious Gatsby T Level Employer of the Year Award at the Department of Education’s regional National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards. The award recognises RCHT’s innovative partnership with Truro and Penwith College, where students gain real-world experience through a groundbreaking apprenticeship programme.

Recognised for Excellence

On Thursday 17th October, the RCHT apprenticeship team proudly collected the award, which celebrates employers who deliver outstanding industry placement programmes. The team will now represent the South West at the national awards in London on Wednesday 27th November.

The T Level apprenticeship programme, one of the first in the UK, is a collaboration between RCHT and Truro and Penwith College aimed at developing the future workforce. The programme provides students with practical, hands-on experience in the healthcare sector while contributing to shaping the future of the initiative.

Real-World Experience for Students

Nikki Pryke, Apprenticeship Lead at RCHT, expressed her excitement about the award, saying, “We are absolutely delighted to pick up this award, which is new for 2024. It’s an honour to have our programme recognised, and it’s been great to see our Truro College T Level students flourish during the two years they spend with us on placements working as healthcare support workers.”

Bonnie Houghton, Health & Social Care Deputy Team Leader at Truro and Penwith College, played a key role in developing the programme. She highlighted the importance of the partnership, adding, “This award is a fantastic endorsement of the three years of partnership working with RCHT as we have been able to develop new and innovative ways of giving our students access to the specialist skills and knowledge that we value.”

Supporting Students and the NHS

The T Level programme is designed to give students a true understanding of working in a busy clinical environment, while also helping RCHT with recruitment. Nikki further explained, “We interview all students who wish to apply for a placement to help build their confidence. They attend our corporate staff induction and receive training to become a healthcare support worker within their first year, helping to give them the skills they need to start a career in the NHS.”

Bonnie added, “Not only does this benefit students when they sit their exams and make their future career choices, it also supports RCHT and their recruitment of new talent.”

A National Example

The T Level and Apprenticeship Programme at Truro and Penwith College has been praised at the national level, with Lord Robert Halfon recognising it as “one of the best examples” in the country. The college and RCHT are now working with NHS Trusts across the UK to share best practices from their successful programme.

The partnership’s innovative approach to combining academic knowledge with real-life experience is setting a new standard for apprenticeship programmes, as the Trust and college prepare to compete on the national stage next month.