Throughout the week, we will provide insight into the opportunities we offer and some of the perspectives of some of the learners. We will also allow you to ask questions to our Education Team in a live web chat.
Director of People Lisa Ward says, “We see apprenticeships as an essential recruitment opportunity. Their flexibility means we can attract people from a range of backgrounds.
“They allow colleagues to train while earning money and give people the chance to relaunch their careers at any age or retrain and upskill. Apprentices can practice what it’s like to give patient care and learn from our existing team of talented and dedicated clinical colleagues, many of whom have been on the same journey.”
The most popular is the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) apprenticeship, which is provided by our in-house education team. We also offer the opportunity for existing staff to progress to become qualified paramedics through the paramedic degree apprenticeship course while continuing to work for us.
Lisa Ward adds, “We have lots of people joining us, knowing this is the first step towards becoming a paramedic. But it’s also raising the ambitions of existing staff. This also means that we’re tapping into a range of talent we weren’t accessing previously.”
It’s not just for those who want to work in an ambulance, either. In 2024, over 300 apprentices began training and studying courses, including accountancy, cyber security and data analysis.
Last year, NWAS was ranked 21 on the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list. The ranking is based on the number of new starters, the diversity of starters, and the number of those who have completed their apprenticeship compared to other employers in the UK.
EMT apprentice Natasha Moore says, “I had been running my own business, working for the fire service and raising a family. I worked with two colleagues in the fire service. One completed the EMT apprenticeship route, whilst the other completed a degree and qualified as a paramedic. 
“After listening to both experiences, I decided that the apprenticeship route was the better option for me and my family. It allowed me to continue to earn an income while learning a new skill and gaining experience through mainly practical work. This suits me as I gain more from hands-on experience than classroom-based learning.
“After qualifying, I’m already considering the option of progressing to the paramedic degree apprenticeship.”
To take part in a question and answer session with our Education Team. Log on to www.nwas.nhs.uk/careers between 1 pm and 2 pm or between 4 pm and 5 pm on Wednesday, 12 February, and follow the Live Chat link.
For more information about apprenticeships at NWAS, click here