News

‘Top-up’ apprenticeships ‘will help provide the next generation of nurses’

Nursing associates and assistant practitioners can apply for two-year training
Apprentice trains to be a nurse

Nursing associates and assistant practitioners can apply for two-year training


Picture: Barney Newman

More than 400 nursing associates and assistant practitioners can train to become nurses through a two-year ‘top-up’ apprenticeship starting this financial year.

Health Education England (HEE) has confirmed that it will fund 420 apprenticeships to support individuals wishing to become nurses via this route to qualification.

Acknowledging existing skills of staff

The top-up apprenticeships differ from the full four-year nursing degree apprenticeships because they reflect the knowledge and skills of nursing associates and assistant practitioners.

HEE deputy chief nurse James McLean said the organisation was pleased to invest in the apprenticeships, adding: ‘This much-needed funding will help provide the next generation of nurses.’

Funding for top-up apprenticeships may be extended

NHS Employers chief executive Danny Mortimer said the investment will be welcomed by employers.

‘It is expected that the funding may be extended further over the next four years to support the government’s pledge of 50,000 more nurses across the NHS,’ he said.

‘We will continue to work with employers to help them make full use of this funding.’

This latest investment follows the £172 million announced in August for employers to take on up to 2,000 nursing degree apprentices every year over the next four years.


In other news

Jobs