At Surrey and Borders Partnership, we are committed to being an inclusive Trust that ensures all staff have access to high-quality education, training, and career development opportunities.

To find out more about our Widening Participation programmes, please email Amanda Richmond, Widening Participation Lead.

Below are examples of how we support our colleagues in developing their careers. 

Career Guidance Lounges

We provide one-on-one career guidance to help colleagues explore career opportunities and personal development pathways. These sessions focus on what matters to you, offering tailored advice on how to achieve your ambitions through the training and development options available.

We recognise that career journeys are different for everyone - some may follow a structured path, while others take a more varied route, gaining valuable experiences along the way. Whatever your journey, we’re here to help you make the right choices for your future.

Career Pathways

We are developing a series of career pathway guides and apprenticeship opportunities, which will be available on our Professions pages. Visit these pages to explore the options that best suit your aspirations.

Functional Skills

Functional Skills, also known as 'Skills for Life' are essential applied skills in English, Maths and Digital literacy, helping colleagues succeed in both work and life.

We understand that some colleagues may not have had the opportunity to gain GCSE/O-Level English and Maths (Grade C/4 and above). If this applies to you, we will fully support you in achieving Level 2 Functional Skills qualifications in English and Maths.

Investing in the future through apprenticeships

National Apprenticeship logo

At Surrey and Borders Partnership, we are committed to supporting the career development of our employees. Apprenticeships play a key role in this, helping us invest in our workforce, expand opportunities, and ensure apprentices get the most from their experience.

Apprenticeships are an essential part of government policy and the NHS Long Term Plan, creating employment opportunities for the future health and care workforce. They also support our widening access and participation agenda, helping us attract and develop talented people across our organisation.

We are using apprenticeships to build career pathways within health and social care, ensuring that all staff—whether in clinical or non-clinical roles—can benefit from structured training and development to enhance their skills and careers.

An apprenticeship combines practical training in a job with study. An apprentice gains technical knowledge, practical experience and wider skills they need for their immediate job and future career, all while being paid in a job. An apprenticeship is delivered in partnership between an Employer and a Training Provider. It involves a mix of learning in the workplace, formal off-the-job training and the opportunity to practice new skills. 

 

Doing an apprenticeship is a big commitment as you will be juggling education alongside a job. It takes time and hard work, but it is worth it. 

 

The benefits if completing an apprenticeship include:

  • Fully-funded apprenticeship
  • Earn while you learn
  • Recognition for your work
  • Gain job specific skills
  • Further your career potential
  • Widen participation to Career opportunities and progression
  • Learn and gain support from your colleagues and tutors

 

All the skills you gain from an apprenticeship will help you in your future career. 

 

We offer most of our apprenticeships to employees already within the Trust. This is because we try to offer our staff the best career development opportunities available. The best way to get onto one of our apprenticeship programmes is to a secure a job at Surrey and Borders Partnership.  

All staff are eligble for an apprenticeship as long as they meet the Apprenticeship Funding Rules and choose an apprenticeship that is relevant to their existing role or apply for a developmental post which is linked to an apprenticeship. 

Staff need approval and support of their line manager and must have completed all their statutory and mandatory training. 

For those who join us as new recruits to start their apprenticeship, they do so on a fixed term contract (dependent on apprenticeship length).

This depends on the level and type of apprenticeship, as well as the Training Provider. Apprenticeships at Levels 2-3 take place within Trust premises, while Level 4 upwards tend to involve mandatory classroom attendance, whether this be virtual or in person. 

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page is a great website to learn more about Apprenticeships.

Are you a parent who would like to know more about Apprenticeships? Click here to find out more.

For further information please contact apprenticeships@sabp.nhs.uk