Unipart celebrates NHS Supply Chain apprentices.

Unipart colleagues working within the NHS Supply Chain (NHSSC) contract recently celebrated those who completed their apprenticeship programmes at a special event honouring their accomplishments.

The event was held on Wednesday, January 22nd, at The Lighterman in King’s Cross, London. It was attended by the first 20 NHSSC colleagues to finish their apprenticeships, along with their line managers and members of the NHSSC leadership team.

Why we started the apprenticeship programme

Our apprenticeship program allows us to utilise funding available through the apprenticeship levy. By providing apprenticeship opportunities, we can nurture and develop talent within the business, helping to build a skilled workforce, who demonstrate The Unipart Way in the way we think, work and behave and have the expertise needed for the future.

Our progress and achievements

Currently, Unipart has 125 learners enrolled in the apprenticeship program within the NHSSC contract, all with clearly defined progression plans. Of these, 72 learners are receiving additional training in English or Maths. Balancing their work responsibilities, apprenticeship learning, and English or Maths qualifications alongside home and family commitments can be challenging. This is why celebrating their achievements was so important.

What our apprentices say

Jemma Allott, Customer Service Advisor completed her Level 3 in Customer Service. She said “I was open minded going into the apprenticeship. I saw it as a great opportunity for personal development and growth. The tools learnt have supported me in interviews for secondment roles. Helped provide personal clarity on what I want from my career and how to get there.”

Karl Dodd, Site Inventory Manager at Suffolk Park completed his Team Leader Level 3. He told us “I am new to the management role, I have recently transitioned from colleague to Manager, the apprenticeship has given me the tools needed to be successful in the role. It’s helped the team see me in a different light and supported their acceptance of my transition. I hope to move on to level 5 and gain the benefits of the leadership skills that this will provide.”

Lara Watson, Network Operations Resource Manager, stated, “It was essential to celebrate the success of our first cohort of apprentices, and we’ll continue to do so throughout 2025 and the years ahead. They have paved the way for others and will be able to offer support and guidance to those following in their footsteps. Apprenticeships provide a great way for us to develop our people and give them the opportunity for career advancement. With succession planning in mind, we are also future-proofing our business for many years to come.”

If you’d like to know more about apprenticeship opportunities in Unipart, please contact Ashley Lidgate, Sana Khalifa, Dawn Allett or Lara Watson.