Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) has announced the launch of trade and engineering apprenticeships for the first time in over 15 years.
The announcement came just before National Estates and Facilities Day, while was on 19 June. The WWL estates and facilities department is leading the recruitment drive and hopes that the scheme will bring in new talent to keep the Trust’s hospitals running smoothly.
A new opportunity for young people in the Wigan area
The apprenticeships – in roles like medical electronics, maintenance electrician, and maintenance mechanical fitter – are designed to provide hands-on training while also allowing participants to earn recognised engineering qualifications.
John Fairhurst, the director of estates and facilities at WWL, stressed the importance of this new recruitment drive for both the Trust and the local community. He said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people in the Wigan Borough to join a high-performing NHS Trust. They will learn healthcare engineering skills through on-the-job training with experienced engineers and gain recognised engineering qualifications by attending a local college one day a week.”
What will apprentices learn on these estates and facilities programmes?
The four-year apprenticeship programme is open to school and college leavers and will be essential for keeping NHS healthcare services running smoothly. Apprentices will be involved in tasks like servicing, maintaining, repairing, and responding to emergencies to ensure the facilities work properly.
Apprentices will learn to service and repair medical devices, maintain healthcare electrical systems, and look after ventilation and plumbing systems. This training will give them the skills needed to handle various challenges in a healthcare setting.
John Fairhurst added, “An apprenticeship with WWL is a great chance to join the NHS and learn practical and technical skills with varied and rewarding work.”
The selection process will start after the 2024 GCSE exams, with the proposed start date for successful candidates in early September 2024. Find out more on their website.