Bolton NHS: How former apprentices built 'great careers'

This comes with Bolton NHS Foundation Trust having celebrated National Apprenticeships Week earlier this month, which aims to highlight the vital work that apprentices can do.

Molly Johnson and Chris Naylor were both recruited in March 2015 and have worked at Royal Bolton Hospital ever since, both having built successful careers since then.

Chris, now a project manager, said: “I was very lucky to have a positive manager and team who allowed me to not only challenge but prove myself.

“It’s always been a positive trait of mine to never settle, and always strive for more.

Molly and Chris when they were first hired as apprentices (Image: Bolton NHS Foundation Trust)

“An apprenticeship is a very humbling experience as you work your way up, but with support and the drive to succeed it can be the perfect platform to build a great career.

“I’m very proud of the fact I started as an apprentice admin assistant at 18, and now at 26 I am a full-time project manager.

“I would say it comes from a constant strive success, but a grounding to always remember where I started.”

Molly, who left school in 2014, has been on a similar journey having worked her way up to personal assistant to medical director Dr Francis Andrews.

Royal Bolton Hospital (Image: Newsquest)

She was originally recruited as apprentice officer administrator in the headquarter of Bolton NHS Foundation Trust to carry out a range of duties while studying.

Now, Molly is personal assistant to medical director, Dr Francis Andrews.

She said: “I started at Bolton NHS FT as an apprentice in 2014, completing my Business Administration Level 3 within the Management Secretariat office.

ALSO READ: Major expansion at Royal Bolton Hospital shapes up

ALSO READ: Parents of twins born at just 25 weeks say a huge thank you to Bolton medics

ALSO READ: New Royal Bolton Hospital research to 'revolutionise' healthcare

“My duties included managing diaries, taking minutes of smaller meetings and dealing with the incoming and outgoing post.

“More than eight years later and I am still in the management secretariat office.

“But I am now working as a band five PA for the medical director which is due to the wonderful support I received and the opportunity to continue to grow from an admin assistant to a band three, band four and where I am now.”