The government has announced funding to support 2,000 nursing degree apprenticeships every year for the next four years.
The package, worth up to £172 million, comes as figures suggest that interest in health careers has surged. The number of people looking for information on nursing on the NHS careers website rose by 138 per cent between March and June.
It will mean healthcare employers will receive £8,300 per placement per year for both new and existing apprenticeships. With nursing degree apprentices already receiving a salary and tuition funding through the apprenticeship programme, this will enable employers to meet the costs of taking on apprentices - including staffing costs - while apprentices are undertaking education and training.
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Degree apprenticeships
The nursing degree apprenticeship is a four-year course with placements available in four fields: adult, children, mental health and learning disability. After that, students can qualify as fully registered nurses. NHS and social care employers currently train around 1,000 nurse apprentices every year.
Employers in England will also benefit from a new payment announced by the chancellor in his statement last month of £2,000 for each new apprentice they hire aged under 25, and £1,500 for each new apprentice they hire aged 25 and over, up until 31 January 2021.
Mike Adams, Royal College of Nursing director for England, said while the funding was welcome, it did not go far enough: “This increase in places is a welcome step and we hope it will make a career in nursing more accessible for those fortunate enough to secure a place.
“It does, however, fall short of the wider investment needed to educate enough registered nurses for the future, ensuring health and care services have the staff needed. It is also the case that a full-time, three-year nursing degree remains the fastest way to deliver a registered nurse through education.
“The government must abolish self-funded tuition fees for all nursing students as well as introducing universal living maintenance grants that reflect actual student need if it is truly committed on delivering the 50,000 more nurses they promised.”
Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “I’m thrilled to see a rising interest in nursing careers, but we must ensure this fantastic career is truly diverse and open to all. Nursing apprenticeships allow students to earn as they learn and this new funding will enable healthcare employers to hire thousands more, helping us to deliver 50,000 more nurses by the end of this parliament.”
Gillian Keegan, apprenticeships and skills minister, said: “Nursing apprenticeships are a brilliant way to start a truly rewarding career with our fantastic NHS. Nurses are at the heart of our NHS and their care, compassion and support of patients save and transform lives across the country every day.
“This multi-million-pound funding boost will help to support thousands of apprentices to gain the skills they need and earn while they learn. Apprenticeships are an excellent way for anyone, regardless of their background, to kick start their career or to progress.”
