Sunderland University announced Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) as the winner of the Employer of the Year Award at their Apprenticeship Awards 2023.
CNTW and Sunderland University work together to deliver a range of both clinical and non-clinical apprenticeships.
More than 2,000 apprentices nominated their employee or mentor for a range of awards. CNTW received a number of nominations and was a joint winner of the Employer of the Year Award, alongside private healthcare provider Spire Healthcare.
It is a celebration of the hard work of the Career Developments team at CNTW along with our Education Support Nurses and recognises the Trust’s commitment to the “grow your own” approach that we have championed as an organisation.
Marc HouseAssociate Director, CNTW Academy
Marc House, Associate Director of CNTW Academy, says: “It’s fantastic news to hear that we have won this award from the University of Sunderland.
“It is a celebration of the hard work of the Career Developments team at CNTW along with our Education Support Nurses and recognises the Trust’s commitment to the “grow your own” approach that we have championed as an organisation.”
Several of the nominating apprentices praised CNTW Academy, which provides access to training for the Trust’s staff and has a team dedicated to recruiting and supporting apprentices:
“CNTW have created an Academy to introduce and support its existing and new employees to develop skills and academic qualifications – the opportunities to advance within the organisation are endless.
“They have provided students with laptops, study time and support in order to give everyone the opportunity to learn.
“The organisation promotes all employees to embrace opportunities to learn and enhance their skills in order to deliver the best care and services to our patients.”
Another individual nominating the Trust said:
“CNTW provides opportunities to develop, enhances skills and offers support that goes over and above by a dedicated vocational team.”
Since 2019, Sunderland University and CNTW, alongside other healthcare providers in the North East, have worked together to create and provide a pioneering nursing degree apprenticeship.
The programme offers staff who had already been working in healthcare settings the chance to study an apprenticeship whilst continuing to work in their current roles. The apprenticeship programme gives students a unique opportunity to earn and learn rather than undertaking the traditional pre-registration full time nursing degree.
In January 2022, the first cohort of recruited apprentices joined CNTW on a 5-year apprenticeship programme, an opportunity again supported in January 2023.
Sunderland University’s Apprenticeship Awards were hosted in conjunction with MTC Training.