Apprenticeship – Target Reporting

Reporting period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020

Employees

• Number of employees who were working on 31 March 2019 – 3,572
• Number of employees who were working on 31 March 2020 – 3,174
• Number of employees who were working on 31 March 2021 – 3,311
• Number of new employees who started working between 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 – 617
• Number of new employees who started working between 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 – 311

Apprentices

• Number of apprentices who were working on 31 March 2019 – 52
• Number of apprentices who were working on 31 March 2020 – 45
• Number of apprentices who were working on 31 March 2021 – 53
• Number of new apprentices between 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 (includes both new hires and existing employees who started an apprenticeship) – 21
• Number of new apprentices between 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 (includes both new hires and existing employees who started an apprenticeship) – 35

What actions have you taken this year to meet the target? How do these compare to the challenges experienced in the previous year?

Increased engagement across all services

What challenges have you faced this year in your efforts to meet the target? How do these compare to the challenges experienced in the previous year?

The NHS continues to face increased pressure across all services and whilst we have a higher number of apprentice starts this year, some learners have needed to defer. Most of these learners are due to commence in the Autumn of 2021 and we do not anticipate further deferrals.

How are you planning to meet the target in future? What will you continue to do or do differently?

We are increasing the apprentice numbers across all specialties and intend to utilise new standards as they become ready for delivery, such as the coaching apprenticeship and ECP.

Reporting percentages

Percentage of apprenticeship starts (both new hires and existing employees who started an apprenticeship) as a proportion of employment starts between 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 – 3.40%

Percentage of total headcount that were apprentices on 31 March 2020 – 1.28%

Percentage of apprenticeship starts (both new hires and existing employees who started an apprenticeship) between 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 as a proportion of total headcount on 31 March 2019 – 0.59%