Grow your NHS workforce with degree apprenticeships from the University of Greenwich

The University of Greenwich offers a solution designed with employers like you in mind: flexible, high-quality healthcare degree apprenticeships that support workforce development while maintaining service delivery.

With decades of experience delivering health education and a strong partnership network across the NHS, Greenwich is a trusted provider of Level 6 degree apprenticeships across a range of frontline roles, helping workforce leaders like you meet the dual challenge of training and retention. After all, we were the first institution to offer a nursing degree apprenticeship programme back in 2018.

Designed around NHS workforce needs

Greenwich’s degree apprenticeships are built in partnership with employers to ensure they fit the real-world demands of healthcare services. All programmes combine academic excellence with clinical practice, enabling NHS trusts and healthcare organisations to:

• Upskill existing staff into professional roles without losing valuable experience from the service
• Attract new talent through salaried, debt-free training routes
• Support social mobility, offering career pathways to staff from all backgrounds
• Maximise apprenticeship levy funds, with all programme costs covered through levy or co-investment

Apprentices remain employed and contributing to the service while progressing toward fully-accredited professional qualifications. The University of Greenwich provides a structured delivery model that minimises disruption and supports apprentices in balancing their study with work commitments. Learning can take place at our Avery Hill campus in London or our Medway campus in Kent.

Healthcare degree apprenticeships on offer

Greenwich offers a growing portfolio of healthcare apprenticeships, each aligned with workforce planning priorities:

• BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing (Degree Apprenticeship)

Develops compassionate, capable registered nurses equipped for primary, secondary, and community care.

• BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing (Degree Apprenticeship)

Addresses the growing demand for mental health professionals, preparing staff to deliver holistic, recovery-focused care.

• BSc (Hons) Midwifery (Degree Apprenticeship)

Provides a direct route into professional midwifery practice, supporting continuity of care and family-centred approaches.

• BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy (Degree Apprenticeship)

Equips apprentices with practical and clinical expertise to improve patient movement and rehabilitation outcomes.

• BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practitioner (Degree Apprenticeship)

Trains theatre support staff to become fully qualified ODPs working alongside surgical teams.

• BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy (Degree Apprenticeship)

Assessing, diagnosing, and treating people who have difficulties with their speech, language, communication, and swallowing. (This course is subject to validation).

• BSc (Hons) Paramedic (Degree Apprenticeship)

Provide high-quality and compassionate care in critical emergencies and traumatic situations. (This course is subject to validation)

All programmes are fully approved by the relevant professional bodies (such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Health and Care Professions Council), ensuring high standards of education and clinical competence.

Real impact on staff development and retention

Workforce managers already partnering with Greenwich report significant benefits. Teresa Riley, an adult nursing apprentice at Oxleas Foundation Trust, described how the programme helped her gain confidence and clinical capability without stepping away from her existing role.

Another apprentice, Roshen Bernadet, highlighted the positive reception from her surgical team as she progressed through the operating department practitioner apprenticeship, reinforcing the impact of career development on staff morale and performance.

For workforce managers, this means:

• Better staff retention
• Higher job satisfaction
• A sustainable pipeline of talent grown from within

Support for employers, every step of the way

Greenwich works closely with NHS employers to ensure the process is straightforward and aligned with service delivery. The university provides:

• Dedicated apprenticeship coordinators
• Assistance with apprenticeship levy usage and funding
• Support with recruitment, enrolment, and compliance
• Regular progress updates and employer liaison

Apprentices benefit from simulation labs, academic mentorship, and a learning environment that respects the realities of NHS work. As an employer, you’ll be supported throughout the apprenticeship journey to ensure your workforce gains the full value of the programme.

A strategic partner for NHS workforce planning

With a focus on flexibility, inclusion, and real-world results, the University of Greenwich stands ready to support NHS organisations in meeting national workforce ambitions, whether through the NHS long-term workforce plan or your own trust’s development strategy.

From East London to the South East, Greenwich partners with trusts, integrated care boards, and community providers to embed apprenticeships into long-term staffing strategies. The model is scalable, responsive, and built to evolve with your needs.

Ready to collaborate?

If you’re planning your next apprenticeship cohort or exploring how to best utilise your apprenticeship levy, now is the time to connect with the team at Greenwich.

Learn more about how we can help shape the future of your healthcare workforce through degree apprenticeships.

Explore our programmes and connect with us at: www.gre.ac.uk/apprenticeships or contact our apprenticeship team at apprenticeships@gre.ac.uk to discuss the next steps.