Publish date: 27 January 2022

Well done to the first of the Trust’s degree apprentices who have completed the Level 7 Senior Leader/MBA Degree.

Kayode Idris, Faith Ogbebor and Venus Kan are the first of their group to pass the course.

Back in 2019 the Trust launched its first ever Level 7 Senior Leader/MBA Degree Apprenticeship with 10 members of staff enrolling at the University of West London (UWL).

The 18-month dual award requires students to complete both the Senior Leader Apprenticeship, which is assessed through an end point assessment, and the MBA Degree.

Staff worked tirelessly through the pandemic to pass the course.

As part of the programme, they were taught management skills, how to lead people, finances and marketing.

Kayode Idris, one of the apprentices who completed the course, said: “I want to express my gratitude to the Trust. It has been a unique experience that has captured the attention of other Trusts across London. We were the largest group on the programme. The course has given me the rare opportunity to develop my knowledge and improve my skills as a manager.”

Faith Ogbebor, also completed the course, she said: “It’s been one of the most satisfying professional experiences I’ve ever had.”

She said she will use her new skills in both her current and future positions.

She added: “I’d like to encourage my colleagues and others to take on this new challenge to grow and develop their operational and strategic leadership skills.”

Venus Kan, also passed with flying colours. She said: “It has been very challenging, especially as I could not take any study day since the pandemic started.

“I would like to say thank you to the Trust for giving me this fantastic opportunity, essentially pushing myself out of my comfort zone and to become a better leader.”

The remaining degree apprentices are due to sit their final assessments over the next two months.

Ali Webster, deputy director of organisational development at West London NHS Trust, said: “I’m thrilled to hear the amazing results that our staff have achieved.  They have shown the quality of leaders at our Trust and achieved remarkable results while studying and working during a pandemic.”

She said the Trust successfully launched apprenticeships at Level 6 for Chartered Management Degrees with UWL, so it was the ‘natural’ next step to offer the MBA Degree and the Level 7 Senior Leader course.

She added: “We knew that many staff were keen to progress to this level.”