Yorkshire Ambulance Service Named Employer of the Year in the NHS Yorkshire and the Humber Apprenticeship Awards

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust has been named Employer of the Year in the NHS Yorkshire and the Humber Apprenticeship Awards 2011.

The award is in recognition of the Trust's commitment to developing a wide range of apprenticeship schemes where individuals receive full basic training, on-the-job mentorship, learn job-specific skills and gain a range of qualifications within an Apprenticeship Framework.

Run by NHS Yorkshire and the Humber, the award scheme aims to recognise NHS organisations which have embraced the use of apprenticeships within their organisation. Awards were presented at a ceremony on 16 September 2011 at the Hilton Hotel Leeds.

At Yorkshire Ambulance Service many of the apprentices work in the non-emergency Patient Transport Service's road operations and communications divisions which offer great prospects for a future career with the ambulance service. So far, 54 apprentices have completed the scheme with the Trust and a further 28 are due to complete their training by the 31 January 2012.

The judging panel chose Yorkshire Ambulance Service as Employer of the Year because 'they clearly showed how they had committed resources and were working with key stakeholders in the ongoing implementation and development of apprenticeship programmes they offer. They showed a clear business case/rationale for this commitment and demonstrated that they are 'leading from the front' in terms of the implementation of apprenticeships within the NHS English ambulance services'.

In addition, YAS Staff Development Officer Gillian Dyson was highly commended in the NHS Yorkshire and the Humber 'Mentor/Buddy of the Year Award'.

Gillian, who works at the Trust's training centre in Wakefield, was recognised for 'her ongoing commitment to mentees and for the impact she has had on individual apprentices and potential future apprentices. As a result of Gillian's commitment to supporting apprentices, YAS has introduced a new role and adapted the programme to improve the apprentice experience. Gillian has also been working with other NHS ambulance services to share her expertise, experience and knowledge and promotes apprentices in PTS'.

Sarah Fatchett, Executive Director of Operations for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: "We are thrilled to receive these awards which demonstrate the success of our apprenticeship schemes. We are committed to the training and development of our workforce and our apprenticeship schemes are another important step in ensuring a future generation of ambulance staff."

Chris Sharp, Learning and Development Manager for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: "Our apprentices have been described as a 'breath of fresh air' and their commitment and enthusiasm has energised an entire workforce. By establishing this scheme we have been rewarded with some great staff who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to join the ambulance service."

Other YAS staff shortlisted for an award were Leanne Paizee-Bayo, who works in the Patient Transport Service Communications Centre in Wakefield, who was nominated for the Non Clinical Support Worker Apprentice of the Year, and Danny Richardson, a domestic at the Administration and Emergency Operations Centre in York, who was nominated for the NHS Estates and Facilities Apprentice of the Year.

The Apprenticeship Framework achievement rate within Yorkshire Ambulance Service is 90% and the vast majority of apprentices who have completed the scheme are now employed by Yorkshire Ambulance Service.