Employer Information

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In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS, we are committed to delivering high-quality health and care services. We believe that apprenticeships play a vital role in developing the skills and talent of our workforce to make this possible.

We are supporting System Wide Apprenticeship programs and exploring external funding opportunities to increase the number of apprenticeships available. Our goal is to maximize the benefits of apprenticeships for our health and care service; encouraging new people into the workforce and offering development opportunities for existing staff.

How does an apprenticeship work?

Employing an apprentice is easy! They will work within your existing team with 20% off the job study time (typically one day) per week, where they will attend college, university or the chosen training provider.

Who can be an apprentice?

Apprentices can start from 16 years old, with no upper age limit. Apprentices can be both new staff and existing employees.

Benefits of employing an apprentice

By hiring an apprentice you are investing in the future, by bringing in talent that fits your business needs, or upskilling existing staff into new positions. Hiring an apprentice requires a certain level of commitment to provide adequate training and supervision, however this often helps to identify existing members of the team who may have the potential to make the next step themselves. Apprenticeships for existing staff are a great way of showing staff they are valued and has been linked to improved staff retention rates.

Levy Funding

NHS Trusts and Local Authorities with a pay bill over £3million can transfer levy funds to other smaller organisations in order to support with apprenticeship course fees. Health and Care Providers within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are eligible to apply for a share of this funding to support apprenticeships within their business.

Applying for levy share is easy.

The Rules

Only levy paying employers can make the transfer
Funds can only be transferred to pay for training and assessments delivered under the apprenticeship standards
Funds cannot be transferred to employers with less than 50 employees where the apprentice is aged 16-18 (or 19-24 who has an education, health and care plan or is a care leaver) as these are eligible for full government funding
If you currently transfer funds to another employer you cannot receive funds
You will not be able to stop fund transfers unless the apprenticeship stops.

How to Apply

Before making an application to apply for funds you must be registered with a Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) account Sign in to your apprenticeship service account – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The portal to apply for 2025 is open 6th January to 28th March, 28th April to 1st August and 29th August to 28th November

To apply please complete the survey.

You can make an application when the portal is closed, to do this please contact icspeopleprojects@mpft.nhs.uk for an offline application form.

For more information about Primary Care

Primary Care Training Courses | Staffordshire Training Hub

For more information about Social Care

Home – Staffordshire County Council

SoTCC homepage (stoke.gov.uk)

Apprenticeship Statistics

– 95 apprentices have started a rotational apprenticeship since 2019

– 87% of the Number of Starters are either still on the scheme, gained employment in a Health and Social Care (H&SC) setting or are continuing in education in a H&SC subject.

– First ICS in the Country to pilot a Physician Associate Apprenticeship. There are 11 PAAs currently in training in partnership with Keele University

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