Apprenticeship accolades for North East Ambulance Service again

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) is celebrating its third year of accolades at the Health Education England North East Apprentice Awards.

The awards mark a successful end to the 10th anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week at NEAS, where a week-long programme of events had been organised for the Trust’s apprentices.

Winning apprentice in ‘The Greatest Contribution to Patient Experience and Service Delivery’ award, Jack Young, PTS apprentice at NEAS, took centre stage with his colleague Amy Burbridge, Ambulance Care Assistant, who took runner up in the same category. Joining them, PTS apprentice Adam Randall also received the runner up award for ‘Intermediate Apprentice of the Year’ award.

All North East Ambulance Service nominees are current or previous Patient Transport Service apprentices. The awards ceremony, held at County Durham Cricket Ground, celebrate the hard work and dedication of NHS apprentices in the North East.

Also nominated for awards were:
◾Claire Lowes – PTS Apprentice, Lanchester Road
◾Amanda Graham – PTS Team Manager, Hartlepool South
◾Rebecca Scott – PTS Apprentice, Gateshead
◾Jamie Callender – PTS Apprentice, Wallsend
◾Kaleigh McPeake – PTS Apprentice, Ashington

Andrew Lamb, Education Coordinator at NEAS says, “This is the third year in a row that our apprentices have been recognised at these awards. For an organisation like ours, we are always looking to recruit new staff and apprenticeships are a great place to start.

 “We offer a wide variety of apprenticeships at NEAS and have been recognised by Ofsted as doing a good job equipping our apprentices and staff for the future. Joining our service as an apprentice can open so many doors; it’s a fantastic way to start your career. Many of our Patient Transport Service apprentices have gone on to be Emergency Care Assistants, Emergency Care Technicians or Student Paramedics.”

Yvonne Ormston, NEAS Chief Executive, said: “I am extremely proud of all of our staff and it’s great to hear of our apprentices doing so well at the very start of their career with NEAS.

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) started its apprenticeship scheme in 2012. Since then, has trained 79 apprentices.

Of those, 43 were trained in the Trust’s Patient Transport Service (PTS), taking patients to and from hospital appointments, seven have been business administration apprentices, based in various administrative back office roles in the Trust, three have worked in the IT department, three have been trained in the Contact Centre and one has worked with the stores and warehousing team.

The majority of the 41 went on to secure permanent roles within the Trust – with some in place before the end of their apprenticeships.

Adam Randall, runner up award for ‘Intermediate Apprentice of the Year’ award completed his apprenticeship as Patient Transport Service Apprentice is now working as an Ambulance Care Assistant.

Adam says, “I joined NEAS to pursue a career where I can continue to challenge myself as I love working with people and being able to bring a bit of joy in what can sometimes be a daunting experience is very rewarding.”

For more information about careers at NEAS, please visit /careers