Kate Young, an apprentice from Waterside Medical Centre in Leamington Spa, has been crowned Primary Care Apprentice of the Year at the West Midlands 2016 NHS Apprenticeship Recognition Awards.
The awards, which took place on Friday, 5 February at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham, celebrated the contribution of apprentices and their employers to the NHS. In the glittering award ceremony, Kate (age 18) was recognised for her enthusiasm and commitment to her apprenticeship which has led to a full time position at Waterside Medical Centre. Among other achievements, Kate has been instrumental in helping the practice significantly increase the number of patients attending health checks.
Kate said: “I am delighted to have won the Primary Care Apprentice of the Year Award. I’m very grateful to the Waterside Medical Centre for the fantastic support they have given me throughout my apprenticeship and now as a member of their permanent team.
“I’d really recommend NHS apprenticeships to other young people who want to develop their skills and put them into practice in an interesting and challenging environment. It’s a great way to prepare you for employment, I’ve not only learnt a huge amount but my confidence has really improved as a result.”
This is the first year the awards have included a primary care category, which invited nominations from GP practices and community health providers. With an unprecedented number of entries this year, the awards demonstrate the success of apprenticeship schemes across the NHS.
At sixteen, Kate started at Waterside Medical Centre, after successfully applying for a Business Administration apprenticeship position. Having recently completed her apprenticeship, she has now been taken on by the practice as a full time member of staff.
Practice Manager, Tim Morris, said: “We are really thrilled for Kate – she thoroughly deserves this award, which is a reflection of her hard work and determination. Kate has brought a fresh perspective to our work, particularly in helping us to engage with our patients more effectively and in delivering specific projects. We’ve seen real benefits to patients, including more people coming in for health checks and better support for people who have frequently been admitted to hospital in the past.”
The South Warwickshire GP (SWGP) federation, which includes Waterside Medical Centre, is encouraging more of its practices to consider taking on an apprentice.