117 apprentices graduate from Spire Healthcare’s 2024 apprenticeship programme
17 February 2025
- Spire runs one of the largest nursing apprenticeship programmes in England
- Spire’s apprentice nurses benefit the broader healthcare system – including the NHS
Spire Healthcare marked National Apprenticeship Week with a programme of events celebrating the achievements of our 340 current apprentices and recognising our continuing efforts to expand and train the UK workforce.
On Friday 14 February, 117 colleagues graduated from Spire Healthcare’s 2024 apprenticeship programme. Since our programme began in 2017, Spire has supported more than 450 colleagues through to their apprenticeship graduation – 2024 saw more colleagues graduate than ever before.
There are 340 colleagues actively enrolled on a Spire apprenticeship programme – two-thirds of whom are clinical apprentices. Spire runs one of the largest nurse apprenticeship programmes operated by any single organisation in the country, and some graduates from our programme go on to work in the NHS, something we are incredibly proud of.
We have apprenticeships across biomedical science, physiotherapy, pharmacy, medical laboratory technicians, as well as non-clinical disciplines. Alongside our apprenticeship programmes, we offer many other training opportunities and student placements.
Michael Reith is on a clinical apprenticeship programme at Spire St Anthony's Hospital, to become a cardiac physiologist. Michael started his journey as a healthcare assistant and is now entering his final apprenticeship year before he gains his BSc in Healthcare Science Practitioner (cardiac physiology). Commenting on Spire’s Apprenticeship Programme in collaboration with Middlesex University, Michael said: "Once I started the apprenticeship programme, I felt like I'd found my career. The cardiology team at Spire St Anthony's Hospital has been incredible. It's a fun environment which encourages growth.
“The cardiac physiologists have been so supportive and eager to teach. They have always encouraged me to ask questions and have been amazing at building my confidence within the role, including giving positive feedback.
"I genuinely look forward to working with the team and feel so lucky to work with so many incredible people.”
Michael Reith (pictured), Spire Healthcare's Apprentice Cardiac Physiologist
All these apprentices and trainees make a fantastic contribution to our hospitals and clinics, bringing energy and enthusiasm. Spire is truly committed to developing our colleagues and we recognise the positive patient experience these colleagues provide to the people they care for in our hospitals and clinics. None of this is easy – we do recognise how challenging it can be to balance a home life, with a busy work life and additional study time.
Our new nursing apprentices enjoy remote studying with The University of Sunderland, as well as placements in a wide range of nursing settings such as wards, outpatients, operating theatres, hospices, A&E and more. By developing new knowledge, skills and thinking whilst completing their degree, Spire’s nursing apprentices gain a broad experience of healthcare in England and be well-prepared for their future nursing career. The benefit of the degree apprenticeship route is the ability to earn while learning, with a starting salary of approximately £21,000 depending on previous experience.
Professor Lisa Grant, Group Clinical Director and Chief Nurse at Spire Healthcare said: “Congratulations to the 117 apprentices – we are incredibly proud of you. Against a backdrop of national shortages in healthcare professionals, we’re aiming, through our continued investment in our apprenticeship programmes, to build a talent pipeline for our business and the broader healthcare sector. Importantly, these programmes contribute to the sustainability of the whole healthcare sector in the UK, because many of our graduates will go on to careers in the NHS and elsewhere – something we’re proud of as a net contributor to society.”
Spire Healthcare proudly works with our training partners University of Sunderland, BPP, Sheffield Hallam University, AC Training, Pier Training and University of Derby to develop and deliver our apprenticeship programmes.