University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust is a teaching hospital providing community and hospital services across the Morecambe Bay area - an area covering a thousand square miles in south Cumbria and north Lancashire.

A commitment to technical education

As a large employer, with a hard-working and dedicated workforce, the Trust employs approx. 7500 individuals in an extensive range of clerical and clinical roles, including Medical Secretaries, Nurses, Human Resources advisors and Porters. Committed to technical education, the Trust employs local talent; supporting the community whilst developing the skills the business needs.

Feeding a future talent pipeline

Supporting a number of technical education schemes, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust has offered to host 100 T Level students on industry placement – with 43 currently confirmed and on industry placements, working across 3 hospital sites.

“In business we are all looking for an edge, an advantage, and I believe T Level industry placements can provide businesses with that advantage. I would implore all employers to consider hosting industry placements.

By building relationships with local training providers, employers can start the conversation and enable them to explore the art of the possible in bringing young people into the business to develop business and sector specific skills. These individuals may also feed talent pipelines and could become future apprentices within the business. That is certainly our intention here.”

Ray Olive, Assistant Director of People and OD at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, and recently appointed Chair of the T Level Ambassador Network

The Trust has ensured a level of stability to deliver their services during challenging periods of change – particularly those experienced during the pandemic.

Progression from T Level industry placements

Currently there are 233 apprentices in University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, with plans to recruit a further 120, and 200 trainees. Apprentices are in roles, including Pharmacy, Installation/Maintenance electrician, Trainee Nursing Associate and Operations/Departmental Managers, ranging from Level 2 to Level 7, and play a critical role in the hospital – working in both clerical and clinical roles.

Trainees are working in a number of different teams from the hospital careers and engagement team, delivering administration support, to working in the emergency department, helping to keep patients safe. Staying in the business for between 6-12 months, trainees develop skills to enable individuals to move into the next phase of their career.

“We have invested in supporting technical education as we believe as an anchor institute that we have a social obligation to help local communities we serve. It also allows us to keep high quality talent in our local communities and to stop seeing such talent leave the area.

“I would encourage employers of all sizes, and in all sectors to consider the benefits of technical education. I would like to see more employers host students on T Level industry placements, and to invest in apprenticeships and traineeships. Not only do businesses benefit from the skills individuals bring in, but individuals gain the skills needed for them to progress in their careers.”
Ray Olive

If you're interested in offering an industry placement, get in touch with T Level providers near you.