National Apprenticeship Week 2026

National Apprenticeship Week takes place 9-15 February 2026.

This year’s theme is #SkillsforLife, which reflects on how apprenticeships can help individuals of all ages and backgrounds develop the skills and knowledge they need for a rewarding career, and how employers can develop a talented workforce equipped with future-ready skills.

Throughout #NAW2026 our Apprenticeship and Widening Participation team will be raising awareness and celebrating the positive impact apprenticeships have within our Trust. They will be sharing information and highlighting the opportunities available to our hardworking colleagues to upskill, progress their careers and gain recognised qualifications through the GHC Apprenticeship Programme.

Gloucestershire Health and Care Apprenticeship Awards 2026

A fitting finale for National Apprenticeship Week is our annual GHC Apprenticeship Awards. This virtual awards ceremony will highlight and celebrate our fantastic colleagues who are on or have recently completed an apprenticeship, and recognise their hard work, passion and commitment.

Special acknowledgment is also due to our inspirational motivational mentors, who have been recognised as nominees within our Trust. Their unwavering dedication and hard work in guiding our apprentices has been truly exceptional.

 

The nominees for each category are:

Clinical Apprentice of the Year
  • Fran Davies – Level 6 Occupational Therapy 

  • Tessa Harris – Level 5 Student Nursing Associate

  • Natalie Christmas – Level 6 Nursing Top-up

  • Bobbie Jo Sparson – Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker

  • Naomi Larner – Level 6 Occupational Therapy

  • Katie Williams – Level 6 Podiatry

  • Henry Ashcroft – Level 6 Physiotherapy

Non-clinical Apprentice of the Year
  • Cherie Mollentze – Level 7 Senior Leader

  • Holly Greenway – Level 4 Associate Project Management

  • Lucy Skelton – Level 3 Customer Service

  • Chris Brown – Level 5 Operational Departmental Manager

  • Emma Warren – Level 5 Operational Departmental Manager

T-Level Student of the Year
  • Poppy Radbourne – Second-year Health Student, Cirencester College

  • Sophie Massey – Second-year Health Student, Stroud College

  • Lilly Fryc – Second-year Health Student, Cirencester College

  • Sofia Lysenko – Second-year Health Student, Cirencester Colllege

Motivational Mentor
  • Lisa Izod – Business Manager for Ambulatory Care

  • Sarah Scammell – Diabetes Specialist Nurse

  • Jo-Anne Hall – Healthcare Assistant

  • Caroline Winfield – Manager, Out Patients, Tewkesbury and North Cotswolds hospitals

  • Jonathan Lane – Community Mental Health Nurse

  • Cazz Matthews – Community Mental Health Nurse

  • Jessica Gingell – Office Manager, Avon House

  • Debbie Simmonds – MIU Manager, Cirencester Hospital

  • Merrilyn Hall – Clinical Nurse Lead, Cirencester Hospital

  • Karen Fawcett – Ward Manager, Cirencester Hospital

  • Anne Dodson – Community Podiatrist

Our sincere congratulations go out to all the nominees. We wish you all the best of luck and look forward to celebrating everyone’s outstanding accomplishments and successes throughout this exciting National Apprenticeship Week!

Tune into our social media channels at 12pm on Friday 13 February to find out the winners.

And finally, a huge ‘thank you’!

The Apprenticeship and Widening Participation team would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation of the collective efforts which make our apprenticeship programme thrive.

To find out more about the apprenticeship, T-level and work experience opportunities available within our Trust, visit: Work for us > Glos Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust

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