National Apprenticeship Week: “I couldn’t afford to become a nurse, but an apprenticeship made it possible”

An aspiring nurse has achieved her dream after completing an apprenticeship at Rochdale’s Highfield Hospital.

With commitments at home and not being able to afford to go to university to study, Chelsea Teece, 25, of Manchester, was looking for a way to fulfil her dream and learn at the same time.

Chelsea soon discovered that an apprenticeship might be the answer.  

She said: “I’d never considered an apprenticeship before and didn’t really know much about them. I went straight from school to college and then into work. That meant I never really understood how an apprenticeship could benefit me.”

Chelsea began to explore her options and discovered a programme that had never been offered before in the health and social care sector, offered by Circle Health Group, which runs Highfield. Following a conversation with the team at Highfield Hospital in Rochdale, she was accepted onto the programme.  

“It was daunting at first: the role and the apprenticeship itself was new so there were a few hurdles to overcome but once I got going things became easier and my colleagues were really understanding,” explained Chelsea.  

She added: “The best part of my apprenticeship was my placements; I was able to understand the different fields of nursing in a very practical and engaging way. As a registered nursing associate, I’m not limited to one field of nursing. This gives me a lot of exposure to avenues that my career could go down. It’s a really exciting experience.”

The apprenticeship was not without its challenges, juggling full time work with completing a full-time course.

However, Chelsea successfully completed her apprenticeship in 2022 and qualified as a Registered Nursing Associate at Highfield Hospital.  

Chelsea said: “When I got my result from my final essay, it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt so proud that I had done it. It took me two years which seems like a long time, and you think that you’ll never get to the end, but it goes so quick. I couldn’t afford to become a nurse, but an apprenticeship made it possible.”

Completing her apprenticeship has taken Chelsea one step closer to her dream.

When asked what this has meant to her and what her hopes for the future are, Chelsea said: “It has changed my life for the better. I have found a new love of learning and I am one step closer to my final goal which is to become a registered nurse.

“The apprenticeship has opened up so many opportunities for me. I have been accepted onto the registered nurse degree which starts in March. I am excited and ready for another challenge.”

In 2022 alone, Circle Health Group supported 292 apprentices to begin qualifications. Since launching the apprenticeship programme in 2017, 30 different bespoke programmes aimed at recruiting and retaining talent in clinical and non-clinical roles have launched.