Spotlight on our service – the Education Team
Last year, our Education Team delivered training to 13,498 people, including NEAS colleagues and more than 8,000 external learners.
Gathering on one of the rare student‑free days in the calendar, the team reflected on the breadth of work delivered behind the scenes – much of which often goes unseen by the wider workforce.
National recognition and accreditation success
One of the headline achievements was securing 28th place in the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers, moving up from 65th the previous year. This marks the fourth consecutive year the team has been listed, making the organisation the only ambulance trust to achieve this sustained recognition.
The team also retained a strong Ofsted rating, achieving outstanding in several categories and maintaining an overall “Good”.
Across the board, all qualifications delivered by the team – from apprenticeships to leadership and driver training – were assessed by multiple external awarding bodies, as well as an annual comprehensive review undertaken by NHS England, with no issues found with the quality or governance of education delivered.
The team also retained our RESUS Council and ITLS provider status, which involves significant governance work but ensures we continue delivering high‑quality trauma and life support education.
The team’s work also earned more national acclaim, including:
- Receiving the Emergency Service of the Year Award from the Armed Forces Covenant for support of military students and colleagues
- Winning the regional Large Employer of the Year title at the Government Apprenticeship and Skills Awards
- Being ranked in the national Top 10 – a significant achievement for a comparatively small ambulance trust
- Driver training being recognised as Provider of the Year (England) by FutureQuals for its high training standards
- Several apprentices were shortlisted in every category of the North East Apprenticeship Awards. One won Degree Apprentice of the Year, and several received highly commended recognition.
- Winning an innovation award in the HPMA People Awards for a new Learning Disability and Autism package, which was developed alongside patients and will directly impact patient care and has been adopted nationally by all UK ambulance trusts as best practice
Outstanding apprenticeship and academic performance
The team began delivering leadership apprenticeships internally last year after gaining accreditation from CMI and NCFE and brought key skills delivery in-house, which has seen a huge improvement to pass rates.
Apprenticeships have also been developed for dispatch roles, with call-taking apprenticeships in discussion, and a new full enhanced and advanced practice education framework has also been developed by the team and scheduled for rollout as an apprenticeship in September 2026.
Apprenticeship outcomes continued to exceed national benchmarks and learners continue to perform at exceptional levels:
- The team is forecasting a 95% timely completion rate, far surpassing the Department for Education standard of 65%
- 65% distinction rate across apprenticeship programmes
- 80% first‑class honours among BSc Paramedic apprentices, with all remaining learners achieving a 2:2
Major milestones in development and innovation
The team continued expanding simulation-based education, including investing in additional mannequins and achieved national accreditation to deliver FREC, running its first courses this year.
Responding to learner feedback, the team introduced online newly qualified paramedic and commander portfolios, replacing paper‑based versions with a more accessible, structured and user‑friendly digital format.
The digital team developed a number of sector‑specific learning packages on areas such as sexual safety, asset management, APR, and dementia – ensuring materials are tailored to pre‑hospital care, where national resources often focus on hospital settings.
The department also exceeded its commercial and events income target, generating £500,000 which is reinvested directly into frontline patient services.
Saying goodbye to a key member of the team
After 30 years and countless miles on the road, driver education lead Kevin Curry parked up for the final time when he retired from the ambulance service at the beginning of January.
Throughout his career, Kev has steered through every challenge, guided new drivers, and helped shape the future of ambulance care. His reflections remind us of the commitment, resilience, and quiet professionalism that have powered decades of frontline service.
Karen Gardner, assistant director of people development, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the team and everything they’ve achieved. The passion and commitment shown by education colleagues across all areas of education is amazing to see and they achieved so much in 2025 -most of it is unseen by the rest of the organisation but all of it shaping the quality of care delivered to patients.”