Three pioneering midwifery apprentices have recently graduated from a new programme designed to improve healthcare across the North West of England.
They are the first to complete a midwifery degree apprenticeship in the region thanks to the partnerships between the University of Cumbria and the regional North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay (UHMBT) NHS Foundation Trusts.
Launched in September 2022, the University of Cumbria midwifery degree apprenticeship was among the first of its kind in the UK.
Aligning with the university’s mission to drive higher-level skills in and for the region, the apprenticeship is helping employers to upskill and reskill the workforce and serving patients across the county.
Among the graduates are Charlotte Millis, Sophie Harley and Jessica Hannaford who are based within UHMBT.
The programme has been co-designed with the two NHS trusts to help address workforce shortages in the region and NHS, whilst widening access to the profession by offering new higher education routes to those who have never considered it before.
It offers an alternative route into midwifery for those already working in healthcare settings with apprentices combining academic study with hands-on experience in local hospitals and healthcare settings. Apprentices who successfully complete the programme earn a BSc (Hons) Midwifery degree at the end of their three years of effort, which is the same duration as a traditional undergraduate study route.
Professor Karen Stansfield, University of Cumbria's Dean of the Institute of Health said: “Each graduate has combined rigorous academic learning with frontline clinical practice, demonstrating resilience and dedication throughout their journey.
“We are proud of their achievement which not only strengthens the midwifery workforce in Cumbria but also showcases the value of apprenticeships in creating sustainable career pathways. This is not only as part of the national need for more healthcare professionals as part of NHS Long Term Workforce Plans but also because, as one of the country’s largest providers of degree apprenticeships in the country, we partner with employers across many sectors to develop skills be it in teaching, policing and youth work to forestry and chartered management.”
Susan Foyle, Director of Midwifery, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), said: “We are absolutely delighted that the first of our Midwifery Degree Apprentices graduated recently and we congratulate them for their achievements.
“Our graduates represent a new generation of midwives who are equipped with academic knowledge and practical experience from day one. That is good news for women, pregnant people, families, colleagues, our maternity units and the wider communities we serve.
"This highly positive and pioneering partnership with the University of Cumbria shows what can be achieved when education and healthcare work together. The degree apprenticeship will also help us to address workforce challenges while opening doors for talented individuals who may not have considered midwifery before.”
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