Public Health Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a great paid work opportunity for people over the age of 16 in England who are early in their career, looking to upskill in their current job or looking for a career change. Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. As an apprentice you’ll:

- be an employee earning a wage and getting holiday pay.

- work alongside experienced staff.

- gain job-specific skills.

- get time for training and study related to your role (at least 20% of your normal working hours).

Apprenticeships take 1 to 5 years to complete depending on their level.

Designed in partnership with industry to meet professional standards, higher and degree apprenticeships are a great way for employers to attract and retain talent, boost productivity and up-skill the workforce. Apprenticeships open doors to rewarding and challenging careers in business and management, engineering, health and wellbeing, the built environment, digital and education sectors. The apprentice will benefit from the expertise of academics who have a strong track record of delivering high-quality teaching, leading influential research projects and are highly respected in their fields.

In order to apply for an apprenticeship you must first be in employment with an organisation who is willing to put you onto the an apprenticeship scheme or sometimes job vacancies are advertised as apprenticeship roles with the opportunity to progress onto a substantive role upon successful completion.

Levels of Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships have equivalent educational levels.

Some apprenticeships may also give you an additional qualification, such as a diploma.

More information can be found on the Government website -  Become an apprentice: How apprenticeships work - GOV.UK, and on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE)

Public Health Apprenticeships

A public health apprenticeship is a work-based training programme that provides routes into a variety of careers within public health and across all employment sectors.

It is a three-year programme that covers the breadth of the practitioner role while completing a bachelor degree qualification, typically a BSc in Public Health.

During the apprenticeship, you will initiate and develop public health interventions and services, such as obesity prevention, infection prevention and control, or national risk-assessment and screening.

Please see below the apprenticeship opportunities available via Higher Education Institutions in Greater Manchester.

National guidance on apprenticeships that support public health careers can be accessed here: Apprenticeships that support public health careers: November 2019 update - GOV.UK

Public Health Apprenticeships in Greater Manchester

See below for public health apprenticeships of varying levels available in Greater Manchester.

BSc (Hons) Public Health Practitioner (Public Health Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship) | University of Salford

BSc Public Health Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship has been developed through consultation with Public Health England and employers working in a range of public health related fields to enable successful graduates to work in the field as registered Public Health Practitioners. Suitable for those working in a public-health related role who wish to develop their careers further, or those employed as a new entrant apprentice in a public-health related role.

FdA Health and Social Care (Assistant Practitioner (Health) Higher Apprenticeship Route) (bolton.ac.uk)

The University of Bolton's FdA in Health and Social Care (Assistant Practitioner (Health) Higher Apprenticeship Route) has been fully mapped to the Level 5 Assistant Practitioner (Health) Apprenticeship Standard (ST0215). This combined foundation degree and apprenticeship is suitable for new and existing health and social care support staff who have direct contact with patients, service users or clients, and demonstrate the potential to take on the greater responsibilities and challenges of the Assistant Practitioner role. Offering the best combination of theory and practice, study at the University complements learning in the workplace, supporting apprentices to develop the core skills, knowledge, values and behaviours required to fulfil the role of Assistant Practitioner.

Training providers for Community health and wellbeing worker (level 3) (education.gov.uk)

To work in partnership with individuals and their communities to identify and address health and wellbeing needs, improve health, prevent ill-health and reduce inequalities.

Also known as: 

• Care or Service Navigator
• Community Connector
• Community Health Champion
• Health Trainer
• Live Well Coach
• Social Prescribing Link Worker

Provided by a number of Higher Education Institutions

Public Health Apprenticeship Information Webinars

Public Health Apprenticeship Information Webinar - In April 2024, the Greater Manchester Workforce Collaborative and University of Bolton hosted an information webinar for Public Health Apprenticeships. The webinar includes a summary of Public Health Apprenticeship opportunities and how the learning is applied within local authorities.

Public Health Apprenticeships Information Webinar – In September 2024, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) hosted a webinar with University of Salford for people considering a Public Health Apprenticeship. The webinar features presentations from Public Health Practitioners who have completed a Public Health Apprenticeship and how it has supported them in their role within local authority.

Apprenticeships - Further Information

Apprenticeship search / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

The institute for apprenticeships and technical education (IfATE) work with employers to develop, approve, review and revise apprenticeships and technical qualifications.

We are transforming and improving the skills system by putting employers at the heart and making it easier to navigate for all.

We follow expert guidance from thousands of large and small employers to deliver world-class apprenticeships, T Levels, and higher technical qualifications (HTQ).

All apprenticeships and T Levels are based on occupations recognised by employers. Working together we've built over 600 occupational standards across 15 occupational routes.

An occupational standard is a description of an occupation. It contains a profile, and describes the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed.