70 IT apprenticeships up for grabs
SCHOOL leavers are being urged to apply for up to 70 specialist IT apprenticeships at various NHS organisations across the North West.
Training provider Estio Training is currently recruiting a number of 16 and 17 year olds to start a Health Informatics Apprenticeship in the Manchester, Liverpool and Blackburn areas.
The purpose of Health Informatics is enable, promote and support the effective use of data, information, knowledge and technology to assist and improve health and health care delivery.
As technology develops at an increasingly fast pace, the NHS is producing massive amounts of data and information which needs to be understood and used.
Estio is looking for a new group of ambitious young people to fill the skills gap and provide the future workforce.
The entry criteria for the apprenticeship is minimum 4 GCSEs (A* to C grade) and a passion for information technology.
The programme includes comprehensive training & qualifications from City & Guilds and Microsoft as well as a job role within the NHS. It is a government funded training programme delivered by Estio Training alongside The Skills Development Network.
This is the second cohort of Apprentices to start this programme. Last year over 30 school leavers joined the programme and after a successful year, Estio Training is now looking to recruit more apprentices for an October 2016 start.
Existing apprentice, Bethany Edgerton currently works for the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust on the Health Informatics Apprenticeship Programme.
She said: “This apprenticeship really appealed to me as it combines IT with working for the NHS, a professional and well established organisation.
“I am currently working alongside the Technical IT Team replacing old equipment and I get involved in lots of community projects. I’m really enjoying the course and look forward to developing my IT career further.”
Initially new candidates will be offered a place on a Work Preparation Programme comprising a week’s employability skills training followed by a short work experience placement at one of the NHS organisations signed up to the programme, as close as possible to where they live.
Successful candidates will then be offered a two-year Health Informatics Apprenticeship where they will spend a proportion of time working in Information Management with data analysts or IT service desks, support and IT network engineers. The roles will enable young people to start earning a wage while learning and developing valuable skills over the 24 months.
