Rotherham Health Trust shines at National Apprenticeship Week Awards with two wins

Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust representatives picked up two awards at the RNN Group National Apprenticeship Week Awards held at Wharncliffe restaurant in Rotherham.

Senior healthcare support worker apprentice Amber Thorpe was named apprentice of the year for care, while the trust itself received the employer award for commitment to personal development.

Amber, who works in the community hospital admissions avoidance team, was praised for demonstrating “the skills of a professional and independent worker whilst also working as a member of the multidisciplinary team”.

She said: “I’ve worked really hard throughout my apprenticeship so it’s lovely to have this recognition. I’m grateful to my colleagues who have supported me throughout.

“I decided to take this opportunity to do my apprenticeship to further my skills and knowledge within the trust.

“I have enjoyed this so much that I am looking at progressing onto the assistant practitioner with a view of eventually becoming a qualified physiotherapist.”

Accepting the award on behalf of the trust was head of learning and development Helen Thomas, who said she was “absolutely thrilled”.

She added: “This recognises colleagues who go above and beyond in terms of supporting our apprentices in both clinical and non-clinical areas.

“We currently have about 150 apprentices studying level two to level seven qualifications so that means at least another 150 colleagues are acting as their mentors and support infrastructure, which is no mean feat alongside the day job.”

Since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in 2017, the trust has completed nearly 200 successful apprenticeships with many more still in progress.