Ambulance service celebrates graduation of its first cohort of paramedic apprentices

The scheme has provided an opportunity for staff across all corners of the service to become paramedics through a fully-funded degree-apprenticeship, which is delivered by NEAS education staff and supported by course leaders at Teesside University’s School of Health & Life Sciences.

The introduction of the apprenticeship scheme was part of the service’s on-going efforts to support the building of a skilled, experienced, and aspirational workforce. During their studies, the apprentices have gained clinical skills and knowledge through high quality work-based training, simulation, and academic development, delivered by the service’s education team.

Provided with first-hand experience of responding to urgent and emergency incidents through their work on-shift, the newly-qualified paramedics will enter the service’s workforce prepared to attend a wide range of incidents whilst on the road.

About the paramedic apprenticeship scheme:

• 20 places offered per year; the service is currently supporting 58 paramedic apprentices through its apprenticeship scheme
• Apprentices are selected from an internal-only pool of applicants each year, coming from across the service, including operational colleagues such a clinical care assistants, the emergency operations centre (health advisors and dispatchers), and support services
• The scheme provides an alternative to the typical university route into becoming a paramedic, with an emphasis on providing hands-on learning experience
• Apprentice training is delivered through a mix of working as part of an operational crew, training sessions delivered by the service’s education team at our training school in the Team Valley, and classroom-based learning at the University

Backworth-based paramedic apprentice, Catherine Fish, joined the service in 2010 as a health advisor before becoming a health advisor trainer in 2016. She said: “I am over the moon to have completed and earned my degree. As I look back over the past three years, I can’t believe how quick it has flown by! At times, the journey to qualifying has been overwhelming and incredibly challenging but the unwavering support of my fellow apprentices, our amazing mentors, and our colleagues on the road was invaluable.

“Completing my degree and graduating from university today is a surreal and proud moment for me. When I began working for NEAS as a health advisor, I could never have imagined the world of opportunities that would be available to me. To anyone considering taking an apprenticeship route to becoming a paramedic, I would wholeheartedly encourage you to pursue it. The journey is challenging, but the rewards are so worth it. You will never regret taking the leap.”

NEAS’ assistant director of people development, Karen Gardner, said: “Five years ago, we embarked on a journey to introduce a career progression route for our colleagues across the service who wanted to become paramedics. The journey wasn’t an easy one, but I am so proud to be able to celebrate the achievements of our inaugural paramedic apprenticeship cohort today at Teesside University. On behalf of the whole education and development team, we want to extend the warmest congratulations to our graduates today.

“It has been a long, and at times, challenging programme, but it has been so rewarding to oversee your hard work and dedication over the past three years. We hope you’re able to enjoy today’s celebrations and we look forward to working with you out on the road very soon.

“I want to thank everyone who has supported us and our students, including Teesside University and South Tees Foundation Trust who supported us with this cohort.”

The service’s strategic education lead, Daniel Cooper, adds: “Over the past three years, we have seen our apprentices go from strength to strength as they have developed throughout their courses. Alongside their studies, they have worked as part of crews across the region, responding to 999 calls from our patients. Their graduation today isn’t only testament to their academic abilities, but their resilience and hard work as operational colleagues in our service.

“It has been an absolute honour to have supported their learning and career development, and I am both confident in and excited to see their careers as paramedics in the coming years.”

Dr Ann French, Acting Dean of the School of Health & Life Sciences said: “We were delighted to see the first cohort of paramedic apprenticeships cross the stage at our graduation ceremony and receive their well-earned qualifications.

“Teesside University is one of the UK’s leading providers of professional apprenticeship and we work closely with employers to develop qualifications which will deliver impactful skills that make a real difference in the workplace.

“We are very proud to support NEAS in training the next generation of paramedics and supporting them in their vital work saving lives across our region.”

Find out more about careers at the North East Ambulance Service: https://www.neas.nhs.uk/join-team-neas