University Alliance is looking for an external organisation or individual to work with the team to produce a policy report on the conditions needed to deliver the targets in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to provide 22% of all training for clinical staff through apprenticeship routes by 2031/32 (16% by 2028/29) and introduce medical degree apprenticeships.
The requirement
We are looking to commission an individual or organisation to work closely with our staff team and our members to produce a policy report on higher and degree healthcare apprenticeships. The report should set out analysis and targeted policy recommendations that is detailed and robust whilst also being engaging and easy for range of external audiences to digest, including civil servants, MPs, and Ministers.
The aim of the report is to identify the conditions needed to deliver the targets in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to provide 22% of all training for clinical staff through apprenticeship routes by 2031/32 (16% by 2028/29) and introduce medical degree apprenticeships. The report should address some or all of the following:
- Identifying the barriers to expanding apprenticeship routes for clinical staff, with a focus on Nursing Associate, Registered Nurse and other relevant apprenticeship standards at Levels 4-7.
- Where possible, modelling quantitative elements needed to address these barriers (such as levels of investment).
- Identifying dependencies with other elements of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and associated risks.
- Identifying existing good practice and lessons learnt on delivering relevant apprenticeship routes for clinical staff.
- Identifying high-level concerns and ideas for the successful implementation of medical degree apprenticeships (the bulk of the report should focus on nursing and allied health apprenticeship routes).
- Targeted policy recommendations on overcoming the barriers identified to expanding apprenticeships routes for clinical staff.
Project timeline
Deadline for proposals: 09.30 on Monday 18th March 2024
Interviews held: Thursday 21st March and Friday 22nd March 2024
Project kick-off: w/c 1st April or w/c 8th April 2024
Final report and project close: Wednesday 31 July 2024 (provisional date)
Tender process
Bidders must submit an electronic copy of their tender submission no later than 09.30 on Monday 18th March, with the subject line: ITT University Alliance Apprenticeships Research to: ellie@unialliance.ac.uk.
This is one of two policy reports University Alliance is commissioning on higher and degree apprenticeships. The aim of the other report is to model the implications of the Labour Party’s skills policy on the delivery higher and degree apprenticeships and other high-level skills provision by professional and technical universities and to shape the potential implementation of these policies. You can find further details on that ITT here. Individuals and organisations are welcome to bid to deliver both reports.
Read the full Invitation to Tender here.