Apprenticeship Week 2025 – let’s meet Adriana

Living alone, struggling for money and working all the hours for a private care organisation, Adriana knew something had to change – and moving to work at QVH was just the change she needed.

Living in Forest Row, the Trust was the perfect place for Adriana, a psychology graduate, to begin her career in the NHS, and she started here seven years ago with a role in admissions and discharge.

It was when she went on a course to learn how to take bloods and she met Corneo Matron Lynn Martin that the change she was after began to take shape.

“When I went on that course and met Lynn I began to realise there were opportunities for me if I went for them,” recalls Adriana.

“Living alone, paying for everything myself, I needed to earn more money, so I was doing bank shifts and working weekends. But with encouragement I applied for a job as an ophthalmic technician – a Band 3. And surprise, they accepted me.”

At the start of 2022, Lynn told Adriana about another opportunity, a level 4 healthcare scientist apprenticeship.

“I said, ‘Yes, let’s go for it.’ It was a two year course, my first apprenticeship, and just last summer I graduated with a merit. I learned so many things, worked with so many different people. It was such a good experience.”

It led to another opportunity, this time an apprenticeship in ophthalmic imaging in partnership with Gloucester University.

“I started last September as a Level 5 and in the next year it will go to Level 6. So, it’s very challenging. After the first week I was going to quit. But my colleagues reassured me and I’ve kept going.”

“That’s what I’d say to people being given apprenticeship opportunities: it is hard, but keep going. People will learn, develop, new skills, and the chance to move up. When I finish this degree I will be a level 6, so great for me when it happens.”

“These two apprenticeships in Healthcare Science feed my hunger for knowledge, and one of the purposes, an important one, is to gain understanding of what I’m doing.”

“It will be 2027 when I do finish so hopefully I can get a position here. Coming to QVH and getting on the apprenticeships is the best thing that could happen to me.”

“I want to support the Corneo Plastic Unit with all I can bring to the table; intelligence, hard work, and dedication. It is about the money, but at the end of the day, money comes and goes, knowledge stays forever.”

If you are interested in finding out more about our apprenticeship opportunities please email QVH.apprenticeships@nhs.net