A pioneering partnership between the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and HTP Apprenticeship College has won a prestigious national award. 

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust Careers for Young People programme won the Workforce Team of the Year category at the Nursing Times Workforce Awards 2023.

Nursing Times brought together more than 700 professionals from across the health and care community at the Hilton London Metropole to highlight nursing’s workforce achievements.

The Isle of Wight entry beat opposition from across the UK to win the coveted Workforce Team of the Year award, for the new apprenticeship programme. 

In its first year the scheme saw 11 young Islanders progress to full time apprenticeships and real jobs within the NHS.

A second cohort of 15 young people joined the NHS on traineeships in September.

Isle of Wight NHS Trust director of operations community, Nicola Longson, said:
"We are so proud to have been recognised for this achievement. By working together with HTP we have been able to develop a fantastic programme that will really support young people to kickstart their career within the NHS, and on the Isle of Wight."

HTP CEO Rachael Randall said: “It’s a thrill to win this award, for both the teams at the NHS and HTP, but it’s also an amazing moment for our young people.

"This programme is a great success story for the Isle of Wight, showcasing investment in training, leading to real jobs for school leavers here on the Island."

They are now recruiting for September 2024.