QVH shines a spotlight on apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week 2026

Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH) is proud to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2026 by sharing the experiences of Robyn, Finn and Nell, three talented apprentices currently working within the Trust’s busy Procurement team.

Apprenticeships are an important part of how QVH grows and nurtures and supports staff to build their future careers, and this year’s theme of ‘skills for life’ showcases the wide range of transferable skills apprenticeships can help to develop, paving the way to success for all kinds of careers.

• Why our apprentices chose the apprenticeship route

For our Procurement apprentices, the overall appeal of an apprenticeship was clear – gaining real-world experience whilst working towards a valuable qualification.

“An apprenticeship gives you the best of both worlds – real work experience alongside a qualification you can take anywhere.” said Finn, Apprentice Procurement Assistant.

For Robyn, Buyer, the decision was about practical learning: “I wanted to gain core knowledge in my area along with the experience to progress within procurement at the same time; I like that it allows me to apply that knowledge practically to help strengthen my understanding.”

Nell, Senior Buyer, added that she didn’t feel that university was the right path for her but still interested in procurement, and apprenticeships offered a great alternative – “I thought it would be a good way to learn on the job and gain more knowledge about procurement.”

• A closer look at daily life in Procurement

If there’s one thing the Procurement team can guarantee, it’s that no two days are the same. They all described a fast-paced and varied role, from raising purchase orders and sorting out delivery queries, to managing contracts and sourcing specialist medical equipment.

They’re constantly communicating with colleagues across the Trust, solving problems, keeping things moving – all whilst fitting in lessons, assignments and revision around it all.

• What are some of the highlights and challenges of an apprenticeship?

All three apprentices praised the blend of theory and practice, as well as the confidence they’ve gained throughout their courses.

“A real highlight has been my exam results – I didn’t expect to do as well as I have so far” said Finn.

Robyn particularly enjoyed tackling different case studies and project work: “It really makes you think about how you are applying [the learning] within your role at the Trust instead of just reading from a textbook all the time.”

Nell valued learning alongside peers in the private sector as she “had never realised how different public and private sector procurement can be”, and also enjoyed assessment projects as they “push you to choose a project you might not normally take on”.

Time management, organisation and balancing study with a fast-paced role were recurring themes when it came to the more challenging aspects of an apprenticeship.

“You need to be organised, something that I haven’t always been very good at! During busy work periods, staying on top of apprenticeship work is essential,” said Nell.

Robyn agreed: “For the Level 4 course, you’re committing up to 10 hours a week to complete assignments, attend lessons and revise for exams. You need to plan ahead so it doesn’t become overwhelming.”

• Skills for life

All three apprentices described significant personal and professional development since starting their courses:

 Finn has strengthened his communication and research skills, and Nell gained theoretical knowledge in areas such as contract management and tendering, and experience writing professional documents like standard operating procedures.

Robyn highlighted growth in stakeholder management and building stronger relationships with suppliers – “having those stakeholder relationships and being able to communicate clearly with them is definitely a skill that improved a lot when seeing it in action.”

• Why apprenticeships matter

Each apprentice agreed apprenticeships offer a valuable alternative to traditional education.

“You’re learning through experience and gaining a qualification at the same time – it really sets you up for the future and to get you where you want to be.” said Finn.

“It’s a different way of accessing education that can be less daunting. I think it’s a better way to make sense of things as you can see what you’re learning in practice.” added Robyn. Nell agreed and felt that if she had just done the course lessons without workplace experience alongside, she would have struggled to understand the theory being taught.

• How apprenticeships support long-term career goals

Whilst all three apprentices are still shaping their long‑term plans, they emphasised the career flexibility and confidence their apprenticeships have given them.

“Having this experience and qualification opens so many doors; if I end up not enjoying what I’m doing at any point, I could call on different skills and knowledge to change direction,” said Finn. “Whatever I’m doing in 10 years, all that matters to me is that I’m enjoying it!”

Nell hopes to move into a contract management or tendering role in the future, adding:
“I plan to continue growing in Procurement, and my apprenticeships have really helped with that.”

• Advice for future apprentices

We asked Finn, Robyn and Nell for their top tips for anyone who might be considering an apprenticeship as their next career move:

Finn: “If you know what sector or career you want to go into and have a genuine interest in it, as well has time to balance work with studying, then I think it is absolutely worth it.

Robyn: Research the courses and make sure that you can see how it would benefit you (e.g. experience, the qualification), be prepared to tackle the time management, and consider all of your options!

Nell: Stay organised and ensure that you make enough time for your apprenticeship work. When you’re in busy periods it can be easy to focus on the day-to-day things and let your apprenticeship work get pushed back: it is important to stay on top of it!

• The QVH experience

The team all highlighted the welcoming environment and inspiring work happening behind the scenes at QVH.

“The people here are great; I’ve been warmly welcomed from day one” said Finn. Nell also agreed on the positive and enjoyable working environment fostered by colleagues around the hospital.

Robyn added: “It’s exciting to support ground-breaking research and new treatments – we get to be part of that behind the scenes.”

• A manager’s perspective

We also spoke to Charles, Head of Procurement, about his experience of supporting the apprentices within his team.

Charles is passionate about supporting the next generation of procurement professionals, and believes that “apprenticeships help people develop themselves. They create confident, capable professionals who understand not only what to do, but why they’re doing it.”

He highlighted benefits for employers, including apprentices’ ability to “hit the ground running” and apply new skills immediately – freeing up managers’ time for more dedicated support. He emphasised the importance of flexibility when managing apprentices’ exam and study commitments, but said the effort is “absolutely worthwhile.”

He also highlights how well apprenticeships align with careers in Procurement: “Procurement is a very flexible career; almost every company will need some sort of purchasing element within it. Apprenticeships equip people with the tools they need to build a long and varied career.”

“I am very proud of how well our apprentices are doing, and look forward to continuing to nurture their development during their time at Queen Victoria Hospital.”