17 May 2023
A nursing apprentice at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals (STH) NHS Foundation Trust has been named a finalist at 2023’s prestigious South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards this Thursday (18 May).
Trainee Nursing Associate, Gurpreet (Preet) Singh, 40, from Wath, Rotherham, was nominated for the ‘Health and Public Service Apprentice of the Year’ category of the annual awards – which celebrate outstanding apprentices across our region.
Preet works on Ward G2 at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, where he supports the nursing team to care for elderly patients with a wide range of health conditions, including strokes. He joined STH in March 2022 on a two-year Trainee Nursing Associate apprenticeship, having worked previously as a Healthcare Support Worker at neighbouring Rotherham General Hospital’s Accident and Emergency. He said:
“It’s the first time I’ve been nominated for an award like this and I’m really over the moon. I’ve never been to an awards ceremony before and I’m really excited.
“This nomination is for everyone that has supported me in my career – my team, managers, assessors, my family and parents, and former colleagues. Everyone has been so supportive and pushed me.”
Preet’s apprenticeship sees him working towards becoming a qualified Nursing Associate. This is a relatively new nursing role, where he spends four days a week working alongside qualified nurses and healthcare support workers, and one day studying at The University of Sheffield.
“In my last job when I was a support worker in A&E, I really enjoyed supporting, getting to know and chatting to patients. Since moving to the UK from India 18 years ago, my heart has always been in Sheffield though. My wife also works at the Trust, so when I saw the apprenticeship at the Royal Hallamshire come up, it just felt the right time to move on and polish the skills I’d learnt even further.
“I was really chuffed when I got the apprenticeship, it just felt like something different. Working on the ward I get to care for the same patients for extended periods of time and get to know them, which is what I really enjoy.
“Training to be a Nursing Associate through the apprenticeship route has been really helpful and I’d recommend it to anyone. You’re working and studying while you’re earning, which makes things so much easier when you have a family and day-to-day life.
“Every day I learn something new and learning matters to me because, if I help anyone in the community or in the hospital, that is worth me doing this course and job. We only leave our good work and words behind us.
“I hope to maybe further my career in nursing and would love to stay with my ward and directorate for as long as I can. I’m not looking too far ahead though. My main priority is to pass my course one unit at a time and then to see where it gets me.”
Preet was nominated for the award by his apprenticeship coordinator, Razia Fulat. She said:
“Preet really deserves this recognition and I wish him good luck at the awards. Since starting here he’s really pushed himself to achieve and overcome challenges. When he began his apprenticeship, he was a little worried about university and studying, as English isn’t his first language. Despite this he reached out to get extra support through the university and has passed all his academic work first time, which is fantastic.
“He’s also gone above and beyond to help promote the Trainee Nursing Associate role to others, including at careers fairs, the university, and nationally with Health Education England.”
Sarah Tomlinson, Preet’s Ward Manager, added:
“This is fantastic news for Preet. Since he joined us, he’s always given brilliant care and support to our patients and to colleagues too. He’s exceptionally kind, empathetic and cheery and gets a lot of praise from our patients and staff.
“Working in a nursing team can be challenging, but he’s always the colleague asking everyone if they’re okay and helping others out.”
The awards ceremony takes place this Thursday (18 May) at Rotherham’s Magma Science Adventure Centre.
For more information about Apprenticeships at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, visit the Brilliant Place to Work website.