Healthcare Apprenticeships & Training for Healthcare Providers

Healthcare training is open to anyone looking to develop or advance their career in a clinical, care, support, or social care setting across the wider care sector. Whether learners are new to the sector or already working within healthcare, Tend’s flexible range of courses helps build professional knowledge and confidence, including for roles that support children and families. From essential care skills to leadership and management development, each programme is designed to support healthcare professionals and registered nurses as well as new entrants, strengthen professional values, and enhance patient and service user experiences through high quality care across all areas of healthcare.

Career Builders are longer, structured programmes such as healthcare apprenticeships and healthcare diplomas that lead to recognised qualifications across different apprenticeship levels. Across the full pathway, there are four main academic levels overall; Levels 4 and 5 can be equivalent to a foundation degree, often combining workplace learning with more advanced study, and some learners may study through a college partner as part of their education. Levels 6 and 7 are equivalent to a bachelor’s or masters degree, and entry to Level 5 or 6 programmes often calls for A-levels or equivalent qualifications. They’re designed to make a lasting impact on a learner’s healthcare career, offering deep knowledge and practical development over time. Skill Builders, by contrast, are shorter courses that focus on specific skills such as infection control, communication, or medication safety. Many can be completed within a single day, providing fast, targeted learning that fits easily around busy work schedules. Structured programmes also help learners prepare, learn and progress through several levels over time.

Funding options depend on the course type. In healthcare apprenticeships, learners are employed from the start and earn a wage or salary while training, often at or above the minimum wage. Many healthcare apprenticeships are fully funded through the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy, helping learners avoid traditional student debt while employers can train staff at little or no cost. Diplomas and Skill Builder courses are paid programmes but are designed to be affordable and accessible. Tend® provides full guidance on funding eligibility, available grants, and flexible payment options to make professional development achievable for both individuals and organisations. For further information, applicants can apply directly through employers or via NHS Jobs, where NHS apprenticeship vacancies and routes into an NHS career are listed.

Course length varies depending on the type of qualification, with entry expectations and duration often shaped by the apprenticeship level and employer. Healthcare apprenticeships and diplomas typically take between 12 and 24 months to complete, combining hands-on experience, academic study and workplace practice, though some programmes can extend from 1 to 5 years depending on the pathway and work placement requirements. Apprentices usually spend around 80% of their time working and 20% in off-the-job training, sometimes supported by a training centre. Some programmes also include mandatory learning components. Skill Builder courses are much shorter and can often be completed within a day. All programmes are designed with flexibility in mind, helping apprentices balance study with work and life. Learners also complete practical assessments and professional portfolios during the programme.

Learners enrolled onto our courses will develop a wide range of professional and practical skills tailored to healthcare environments. Training covers communication, infection prevention, safeguarding, patient care, teamwork, record management, and specialist learning such as Dementia Awareness and Infection Control, reflecting the importance of supporting patients through safe, compassionate care. Leadership and critical thinking skills are also developed to support progression into senior roles. Whether completing a short Skill Builder or a full Career Builder course, learners gain knowledge and new skills that improve confidence, competence, and care quality through on the job training.

All learners are fully supported by Tend’s experienced training team throughout their programme, with support delivered through a structured training programme. Those completing longer apprenticeship qualifications benefit from one-to-one coaching, regular check-ins, and structured feedback from a mentor and trusted colleagues and gain a nationally recognised qualification, which can be especially valuable for learners making a career change. Skill Builder learners gain access to interactive content, expert-led sessions, and on-demand support. Every course is designed to be engaging and empowering for new starters and existing members of the workforce, ensuring learners feel supported at every stage of their development, make a huge difference to people’s lives, and leave with skills they can apply immediately. This support can build confidence, support career progression, give you relevant and sufficient experience and help learners move into a permanent role in healthcare; ongoing support also helps build commitment and can improve working life as learners progress.