A WAVE of healthcare apprentices from the area's hospitals are taking a step towards a nursing degree after completing their training on the wards.
A total of 15 people - a number of which have been based at Barrow's Furness General Hospital - are moving on to a transition into nursing programme at Cumbria University following the two-year apprenticeship.
They will each be guaranteed an interview for a place on a nursing degree course to begin in September.
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ackie Daniel, chief executive of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said she was delighted with the ongoing success of the organisation's apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in 2015.
"Here at UHMBT, the Level 3 Clinical Healthcare Apprenticeship has now been running for two years, following six very successful years delivering a cadetship across the organisation.
"From our first cohort, I am delighted that 15 have now moved onto a transition to nursing programme at the University of Cumbria, with them all guaranteed an interview to commence a nursing degree in September 2017."
Mrs Daniel added: "This is wonderful news and underlines our commitment to growing our own future workforce."
The trust's apprenticeship scheme was set up in a bid to help UHMBT develop its own qualified nursing workforce within the region.
It is hoped more young people will join the scheme to help fill a national shortage of qualified nurses in the UK.
For the last three years, bosses within UHMBT have recruited nurses from overseas, including Portugal, Spain, Greece and India, to ensure there is a safe number of staff on the wards at FGH, as well as Westmorland General in Kendal and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
Now, a new group of 20 healthcare apprentices have begun work as clinical support workers.
They will spend the next two years completing a series of modules designed around delivering excellent care to patients.
Once completed, those taking part have the opportunity to secure a permanent job as a clinical support worker or move to the transition into nursing programme if they wish to pursue a career in nursing.
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