Nikki Turner, managing director at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are scaling up something that started on the Isle of Wight and has moved beyond that.
“We want to grow the talent locally, and that’s what it’s all about.”
CEO of HTP Apprenticeship College Rachael Randall helped develop the educational element of the programme.
“It’s transformative for our young people, particularly here on the Isle of Wight,” she said.
“You’ve got young people who leave school and within that year they’re already in full apprenticeships within the NHS.”
The scheme supports learners with their wellbeing and employability skills during the first six months before they progress onto an 18-month apprenticeship.
Once completed they gain a nationally recognised Level 2 or Level 3 qualification alongside maths and English, while the NHS provides placements.
So far, 66 young people across the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth have taken part in the scheme, with 32 completing the course across its first three cohorts.
About 84% of participants have gone on to work in the NHS.
The programme has already been nationally recognised with multiple awards, including the King’s Award for Enterprise in 2025.