An exciting, award-winning education programme designed to give 16 to 25-year-olds a route into an NHS career has opened applications to young people in the Portsmouth and Havant area.
The ‘Careers for Young People’ programme, developed in partnership by HTP Apprenticeship College and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, initially launched on the Isle of Wight in 2022 and has so far seen 48 people on the programme.
The scheme has also been praised nationally, winning a King’s Award for Enterprise, a Nursing Times Award and a HSJ Partnership Award.
Ruth Wells, Careers for Young People Programme Lead at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be expanding our programme to the young people of Portsmouth and Havant. 85% of the first and second cohorts on the Isle of Wight are now in permanent roles within the NHS, with others continuing to work in care or move to higher education. It’s a great first step towards a fulfilling career, and we look forward to seeing the impact it will make in South-East Hampshire!”
The next cohort will start in January 2026 with a three-month pre-apprenticeship where learners will undertake work experience placements across Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare and Portsmouth City Council, followed by an eighteen-month apprenticeship offering full-time, paid employment with full support at every stage.
The initiative increases the number of accessible routes into NHS careers at local levels, supporting the Trust’s strategy to grow and develop a workforce which is multiskilled and one which can truly thrive.
Applicants can choose a career pathway in Health and Social Care or Estates Services. Each programme is designed to take learners to the next level of competence in their chosen career by giving them the new skills, knowledge and behaviours they’ll need to progress and succeed.
Applications are open until 28 November 2025 through the HTP Apprenticeship College website.