West Midlands Ambulance Service is celebrating the success of a youngster from Smethwick after impressing them so much during a year-long placement scheme that he’s now been offered an apprenticeship in the service.
Harkaran “Hari” Singh, 20 from Smethwick, spent the last 12-months working within the Trust’s procurement team at his nearby Sandwell ambulance hub after applying for an NHS Midlands Finance Insight Placement.
The scheme offers paid work experience in NHS organisations throughout England to individuals aged 18 and above who do not plan to attend university and come from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Hari’s placement gave him valuable exposure to creditor payments and financial management within the service before he joined the procurement and stores team at Sandwell hub, where he developed both practical experience as well as his confidence.
His commitment and enthusiasm impressed the Trust beyond expectations and has now secured a place on a two-year apprenticeship programme. He’ll be working within the procurement, stores and distribution team; a critical function area within the service which directly supports our front-line operations and, in turn, patient care.
Hari will be stepping onto the national stage later this year at the HSJ Workforce Initiative of the Year Awards to share his placement journey in a bid to inspire others to follow in his footsteps.
Talking about the last 12 months, Hari said: “I’ve always wanted to work within the NHS but because I didn’t go down the full-time education route after school and coming from a disadvantaged background, I didn’t feel I had the opportunities available to others looking to start out in their careers.
"I was always on the NHS jobs website trying to find a suitable career path and then spotted the NHS Midlands Finance Insight Placement which was a perfect fit for me.
“The 12-month placement was insightful, and I have learnt a lot about the service and how the procurement function operates. On a personal level I’ve picked up a lot of new skills which I wouldn’t have got otherwise and improved my communication skills as well as overall confidence.
"I’m eager to further progress on the two-year apprenticeship scheme now and see where it leads me in the future.”
Joanne Antcliff, Head of Procurement at WMAS, said: “Hari’s story is a fantastic example of how the ambulance service can transform the lives of young people who are just starting out in the world of work.
"From frontline crews to finance and support services, there are so many career paths at WMAS, and we are proud to see Hari continue his journey with us on an apprenticeship.”
WMAS hopes that Hari’s story will encourage more young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to explore the wide range of opportunities available across the ambulance service helping build the NHS workforce of the future.
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