Apprenticeship Week 2025 – let’s meet Katharine

Katharine Bond is our Organisational Development and Learning Manager, and was at the forefront of the Trust’s initial response to the introduction of the apprenticeship levy back in 2017.

That year was when we started offering clinical apprenticeships; in fact, we were one of the first NHS organisations to use the levy to procure and offer apprenticeships. By Katharine’s reckoning we’ve had about 150 new apprenticeships start since. As we enter National Apprenticeship Week, Katharine speaks about the role QVH plays as an anchor institution in the local area, and how the apprenticeship schemes are at the heart of it.

“In my role, I work as the widening participation lead and one of the jobs within this role is to support the apprentices. That could be having career conversations with people about what options are available and discussing their career prospects. I’m also involved in the procurement for apprenticeships, making sure we get the best provider, making sure our apprentices are looked after.

“Our commitment to apprentices is really important. As the largest employer in the local area, we act an anchor organisation. We have a duty to support local people and in my remit we aim to do that through development and career opportunities.

“The apprenticeship programmes we offer are a really good way of encouraging people to take up training and development, rather than having to go to university or to travel to London, to find work. When we have direct entry apprenticeships we have a huge number of applications. They offer real life jobs to people who potentially could stay at the Trust for the rest of their career. This is a big benefit: we retain staff.”

Katharine says this commitment to development means QVH is seen as an employer of choice in the local area.

“We are bringing in an increasing number of younger people, encouraging them to join the NHS. We are not just offering a job, we are offering a career path.

“Apprenticeship Week is important because it enables QVH to showcase what we’ve done and the really good stories about our people. Our Apprenticeship Week events this year include a celebration to hand all the apprentices who completed their qualification their apprenticeship alumni badges.

It’s coming up nine years since the introduction of the Apprenticeship levy, which has led to the Trust expanding apprenticeship from 2 or 3 new apprenticeship starts a year pre 2017 to 40 new starts last year

“I think around 150 have come through the apprenticeship route – on one, two or three schemes ranging from level 2 (GCSE equivalent) to level 7 (Masters level) apprenticeships. We are seeing increasing year on year interest in apprenticeships. Long may it continue. We have room for more.”

Look out for more Apprenticeship Week stories on our website and social media throughout the week!