February 5, 2025

National Apprenticeship Week 10-16 February 2025

Emma MarshallNational Apprenticeship Week 2025 is a week-long celebration highlighting the value, benefits, and opportunities that apprenticeships bring to individuals and organisations. The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2025 is ‘Skills for Life’.  Experienced professionals can also take part to boost their careers and develop new expertise.

Emma Marshall is a senior primary care manager in Wakefield District. She is also working towards a Senior Leader Level 7 Apprenticeship. Emma tells us more about how apprenticeships can support people at all stages of their careers and why they’re such a great way to gain new skills.

About your career

In my current role I lead on the management of general practice performance and contractual compliance, supporting 34 GP practices and seven Primary Care Networks (PCNs) across Wakefield District.

My role is focused on ensuring the delivery of the delegated commissioning functions to NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) within Wakefield District, and the effective commissioning of local contracts and service improvement. I am responsible for managing improvements in contractor performance, and supporting infrastructure, to both general practice and PCNs.

Before this I was a Practice Manager at a GP Practice with a list size of over 9000 patients. Earlier in my career I was a Project Coordinator and a Complaints Handler, both of which equipped me with skills to take forward into my current role. I studied for a Law degree at university, which developed my analytical skills.

How did you find out about the Senior Leader Level 7 Apprenticeship, and what did you need to do to apply?

In my performance and development review I expressed an interest in completing a Master’s degree and my line manager supported me to look into this further. Through this I identified a Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship with Arden University that also offered an Executive MBA in Healthcare.

How did you apply?

To apply I needed to evidence my Maths and English qualifications (but support is available to those who don’t have this).

What does the apprenticeship involve?

I was drawn to this programme as it is entirely virtual learning, it being the best fit to juggle work, home and studying and due to its unique offer of additional studying to achieve the MBA.

I attend online learning with an assignment per topic – approximately every 12 weeks.  I also have a monthly meeting with my apprenticeship coach and a quarterly meeting with my coach and line manager.

I also complete an ‘off the job’ log to demonstrate how I have spent my apprenticeship time each week and how this has supported me in achieving the key Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) required.  I am building a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate achievement of these KSBs, which will be assessed at the end of my apprenticeship, alongside a strategic business proposal.

As the course that I am on also has the award of Executive MBA in Healthcare, I am currently working on my dissertation.

How do you feel that your apprenticeship will benefit you personally / your team?

The apprenticeship has widened my knowledge and skillset, built my confidence and personal insight.  It will benefit the team through improvement in my leadership skills and wider knowledge and through the relationships and networks I have built.

I’m very passionate about primary care and this apprenticeship has supported me in the development of my skills to advance in this role.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to do this / similar apprenticeship?

Go for it!

However, don’t underestimate the time commitment required both in and outside of work.

I am now coming to the end of this programme and whilst at times it has been intense, I have really enjoyed it and am proud of how far I have come!

Find out more about the Senior Leader Level 7 Apprenticeships

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