A NEW route into nursing is being offered thanks to a partnership between Essex University and four of the county's health trusts.

Through nursing degree apprenticeships, existing NHS staff can train to become nurses by studying part-time alongside their jobs.

NHS trusts partner with universities to offer the apprenticeships, and pay course fees using the Government’s apprenticeship levy.

Essex is one of the first places in the country to offer the programme, which involves Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The University has been chosen as provider for the ‘top up’ scheme for NHS staff who already hold Foundation Degrees.

A total of 27 staff from the four trusts started their courses on April 9 at the University’s Southend Campus.

Julie Coleman, Lead Nurse Practice Development/Education Liaison Manager, at Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity for us to develop a ‘grow your own’ workforce model.

"There has been a huge amount of interest from existing staff as well as new starters to the trust. Vocational courses enable staff to fulfil lifelong ambitions of becoming registered nurses, with a pathway that can take an individual from a Health Care Assistant to a Registered Nurse.

“From the interviews it was clear that the group of staff hoping to complete the apprenticeship are passionate about the nursing profession.

"Despite the NHS being under considerable pressure they were highly motivated and enthusiastic about the prospect of becoming registered nurses. It is also an opportunity to support and retain staff locally."

The apprentices will undergo the same training as the University’s full-time nursing students, organised differently to fit around their continued work commitments.

Sarah Lee, Head of Nursing at Essex University said: “The University of Essex has a long tradition of being able to respond quickly to changes in healthcare and has always supported a variety of routes into nursing beyond traditional full-time programmes.

"This approach has meant we can respond quickly in structuring our existing BSc Nursing curriculum for the apprenticeship delivery model.

“Apprenticeships provide great opportunities to widen participation in nursing by supporting people with a variety of backgrounds to become registered nurses.”