£20m to help young people into NHS careers

The Health and Social Care Secretary has announced £20 million funding to prepare more young people for an entry-level job or apprenticeship in the NHS.

Matched by £7 million from the Prince’s Trust, the three-year pre-employment programme will involve up to 150 NHS trusts in England and will see participants gain basic skills and experience of working in the NHS.

The programme, set to begin later this year, will focus on helping those who otherwise may not have the opportunity to gain this experience to overcome barriers and enter sustainable employment.

It is expected to help 5,000 young people get into the NHS through entry-level positions, with a further 5,000 joining through apprenticeships. Roles will include digital and business administration, healthcare assistant, facilities, catering and portering.

Nick Stace, chief executive of The Prince’s Trust, said: “Each year, The Prince’s Trust supports thousands of young people across the country to develop the confidence and skills they need to get a job – with our ‘Get into Healthcare’ programme we help young people to take their first step into employment with the NHS.

“We are delighted that through this enhanced partnership we will give thousands more young people across the country exciting job opportunities. Placing young people into frontline roles at the heart of our National Health Service will empower them to realise their potential, kick start their careers and make a valuable contribution to our society. We believe that when young people succeed, our country succeeds and this is a great example of what that can mean in reality.”