A brilliant apprenticeship scheme that’s helping tackle youth employment challenges on the Isle of Wight has just been named Best Educational Programme in the NHS at the HSJ Partnership Awards.
The Careers for Young People (CfYP) Programme, a joint effort from HTP Apprenticeship College and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, gives 16–18-year-olds a pathway into NHS careers. It kicks off with a 6-month pre-apprenticeship in hands-on clinical or business support roles, followed by an 18-month apprenticeship packed with training and opportunities to grow.
So far, 43 young people from across the Island have taken part and every single person from the first group has gone on to get a job.
One of those young people is 18-year-old Kaitlyn Donovan, who was also named Apprentice of the Year at the Isle of Wight Radio Best in Business Awards 2025. She said:
“The programme helped me grow in confidence and discover my passion for speech and language therapy. Starting at 17 was scary, but now I’m supporting stroke patients and feel like a valued part of the team.”
Kaitlyn’s story shows just how life-changing apprenticeships can be—especially for young people finding their feet. They build skills, open doors, and most importantly, boost confidence.
Nicola Longson, who leads Transformation and Improvement at the Trust and founded the programme, said:
“We’ve shown that if you support young people properly, you can grow your own future workforce.”
HTP Apprenticeship College CEO Rachael Randall added:
“This recognition—from national awards to local wins like Kaitlyn’s—shows how much impact the programme is having. It’s about creating real chances for young people on the Island.”
And it’s not stopping here. The next step is expanding into health and social care roles and rolling the programme out to the mainland.
The Island Careers Partnership is thrilled to see this success and even more excited about what it means: more opportunities, more confidence, and a stronger future for our young people.