Apprenticeships

When Will found an apprenticeship in communications and engagement at NHS Essex, he discovered that the NHS offered far more careers than he had realised.

“I had no idea the NHS offered this type of role,” says Will. “It really opened my eyes to the wide range of careers in the NHS.”

Learning while working, Will chose the apprenticeship because he wanted to learn about marketing while doing work that could help improve care for patients.

His role gave him the chance to work on different types of communications. He helped manage social media, update the NHS Essex website and add information to staff intranets.

A big part of his role was helping with communications for primary care. This included adding information to the Primary Care Hub, which provides useful information for people working in primary care.

Building new skills
During his apprenticeship, Will learned how to use a range of digital tools.
He gained experience in email marketing, social media and updating webpages. He also worked closely with other members of the communications and engagement team.

Working with and learning from his team helped Will become more confident when speaking to people at work and taking part in meetings.

A chance to represent apprentices
Will’s apprenticeship also gave him the chance to share his experience with people from across the country.

During National Apprenticeship Week 2026, Will was invited to Westminster to attend a roundtable with apprentices, national leaders and policymakers.

The event was hosted by The Right Hon Laura Trott MP, Shadow Education Secretary, and the Association of Apprentices.

Apprentices at the event shared their experiences and talked about how apprenticeships can help people build skills and start their careers.

For Will, it was a chance to meet other apprentices, talk about his own experience and help shape apprenticeships for the future.

“My apprenticeship has given me a real opportunity to develop my skills while making a difference in my community. It has shown me just how many career paths are available in the NHS and how apprenticeships can open doors for people from all backgrounds.”

Overcoming challenges
Starting a new job can be challenging, especially when you are learning new skills.
When Will started his apprenticeship, he had little experience of the tools and ways of working used in his role.

The support from his team helped him build his skills and confidence. He was able to ask questions, learn from others and get involved in new projects.

From apprentice to communications officer
Will completed a Level 3 Multi-Channel Marketer apprenticeship with QA. His apprenticeship combined learning with real work experience, helping him develop skills that could be used to support NHS services and improve access to care for local communities.

After successfully completing his apprenticeship, Will secured a full-time Communications Officer role within the NHS Essex Communications and Engagement team.

His journey shows how an apprenticeship can be the start of a long-term career in the NHS.

Will’s advice
Will says an NHS apprenticeship is a great way to learn while gaining real work experience.

“I’d say go for it. The NHS offers such a wide range of roles, and an apprenticeship is a great way to gain hands-on experience.”

He also says you should not worry if you do not know everything when you start.
“You have plenty of opportunities to ask questions and get involved with new projects.”

Shehryar started his NHS career as a Business Administration Apprentice in 2020.

At the time, he was working for NHS Mid and South Essex. He wanted to work for a large organisation where he could learn new skills and build his career.

“The NHS has loads of opportunities and is a really great place to develop your knowledge and skills,” says Shehryar.

Starting an apprenticeship during the pandemic
Shehryar started his apprenticeship during the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant much of his work was done from home.

Working from home was a challenge. It could sometimes make communication more difficult and affect how quickly work could be completed.

However, Shehryar also found it interesting to see how the NHS worked during such an important time.

“I wanted to know how the NHS was functioning during the pandemic and how decisions were being made internally.”

The experience gave him the chance to learn more about the NHS and how a large organisation works.

Building skills and confidence
During his apprenticeship, Shehryar developed new skills and gained a better understanding of how the NHS works.

He says one of the things he is most proud of is the knowledge and skills he gained during his apprenticeship.

“I have learnt a lot of new things about the organisation and developed a lot of new skills.”

His hard work and experience helped him take the next step in his career.

From apprentice to Communications Officer
After successfully completing his Business Administration Apprenticeship, Shehryar secured a Business Administrator role within the Communications and Engagement team.

This gave him the chance to learn more about communications and work alongside colleagues in a new area.

Since then, Shehryar has continued to develop his career and has been promoted to Communications Officer.

He has worked across internal communications and now works across media and engagement, helping NHS Essex communicate with staff, partners and local communities.

His career shows how an apprenticeship can be the start of a much longer NHS journey.

Shehryar’s advice
Shehryar believes the NHS is a great place to start a career because there are so many opportunities to learn and develop.

His own experience shows that an apprenticeship does not have to be the end of your learning. It can help you discover new interests, build your skills and open the door to new opportunities.

From starting as a Business Administration Apprentice in 2020 to becoming a Communications Officer, Shehryar has continued to grow his career within the NHS.

Evie started her NHS career as a Business Administration apprentice.

Her apprenticeship gave her the chance to earn while she learned, gain real experience and develop skills that would help her throughout her career. She learned how the NHS works and built her confidence in a busy working environment.

Building her experience
After completing her apprenticeship, Evie joined Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust for a short time, where she continued to develop her skills and experience.

She later returned to NHS Mid and South Essex, which is now part of NHS Essex, as a Business Manager in the Strategy Directorate.

Taking on new challenges
As a Business Manager, Evie oversees the business management of the directorate. She helps make sure its work is well planned, organised and delivered effectively, supporting teams with their planning, resources and day-to-day business needs.

Evie continued to learn, take on new challenges and build her experience. Her hard work and development helped her progress into her current role as an Assistant Commissioning Manager for Unplanned Care.

Where can an apprenticeship take you?
Evie’s career shows how an apprenticeship can be the first step towards many different opportunities in the NHS. By gaining experience, developing new skills and continuing to learn, she has progressed through several different roles during her NHS career.

“My apprenticeship gave me a great start in the NHS. I was able to learn while working, gain experience and build my confidence. It also showed me how many different opportunities there are to develop your career in the NHS.”