NHS Orkney employees begin degrees through Graduate Apprenticeship Scheme - October 2020

It has been a time of new journeys and fresh starts for seven NHS Orkney staff who, this academic year, have begun studying towards degrees as part of the Graduate Apprenticeship Scheme. 

The scheme, managed by Skills Development Scotland, is an education and mentorship partnership between the Health Board, Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University and the Open University.   

Rose Rendall, NHS Orkney’s Project Support Officer for Organisational Development and Learning, said the new students were focussed in areas of learning that included IT, Accounting, Data Science and Business Management. 

“This is a big commitment that means these staff members could be working and studying for the next four to five years.” 

While out-of-hours study is required, the students can use 10% of their working week to fulfil their academic requirements, Rose explained. They also have a workplace mentor should they need professional support that links with their studies. 

The seven are the second group of Graduate Apprentices at NHS Orkney – in 2018 a group of four began their studies and are now starting their third year.  

One of these is Business Management student Nathan Omand who joined NHS Orkney as a Modern Apprentice in Human Resources, thereafter, working in project management on the new Balfour Hospital. 

“When I finished school, I wasn’t ready to go to university and didn’t know what I wanted to do,” says Nathan. He worked for Northlink Ferries and then moved into project management shortly after joining the NHS Orkney team. 

“Working and studying has given me clear direction of where I want to go. I want to do better and go further, and I recognise that studying can enable me to do this.” 

For Health Intelligence Officer, Louise Anderson, who has just started her degree in Data Science, the decision to take part in the Graduate Apprenticeship Scheme has been deeply personal. 

“In March this year my sister Amanda died from cancer. She was only 44. Before she died, she said to me that there is never a right time to do something. She became ill and died so suddenly and I realised you need to take opportunities and follow your dreams because life can change very suddenly.” 

Louise said she was apprehensive about the time commitment as she has a young child and pets, but the combination of work and study has made the challenge feel less daunting. 

“I should have gone to university when I finished school but, instead I did a lot of short courses, none of which really was what I wanted to do nor led me into a career I liked. Working in the field of data and information with NHS Orkney has enabled me to discover what I really enjoy – which is computers.” 

Anyone working for NHS Orkney can apply to be part of the Graduate Apprenticeship Scheme however the final selection to be accepted to do a degree is made by the university. Competition is tough and this year there were 12 applications for two places to study Business Management, for instance. 

“This is a wonderful way to grow our own,” says Rose. “For instance, the team in our accounting department has a wealth of knowledge and experience but several individuals are approaching retirement age. By developing younger staff through mentorship/study initiatives like this we can ensure that they will have the institutional knowledge supported by the qualifications to eventually take the reins.” 

NHS Orkney’s Graduate Apprentices Louise Anderson and Nathan Omand pictured below are among seven of the health board’s staff studying towards degrees.