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St Elizabeth Hospice’s first apprentice lands a job with the local charity

20 September 2013
St Elizabeth Hospice has employed their first apprentice as a permanent member of staff after launching their Apprenticeship Scheme last year.

In July 2012 the Hospice appointed its first Business Administration Apprentice, Jonathon Goldsmith at the Hospice in Foxhall Road, Ipswich. He has since completed his Level 2 NVQ in Business Administration at Suffolk New College and has now been offered a full-time role at the Hospice as an Information Assistant providing support in patient data and importing. 

Since the local charity, which provides local Hospice care for local people, launched its Apprenticeship Scheme, they have also employed IT apprentice Darryl Collett, 23, of Ipswich, maintenance apprentice Sean Buckner, 19, of Ipswich and Income Generation and Marketing apprentice Megan Johnson, 18, of Ipswich.

St Elizabeth Hospice’s Chief Executive Jane Petit, said: “Being part of the local business community is important for us and supporting young people to gain the skills and qualifications they need to get into work is a real priority for the whole community.

“We are really proud that we are able to contribute in a small way through our Apprenticeship Scheme and want to thank Jonathan for so ably demonstrating how much apprentices can contribute to the organisation.”

Mr Goldsmith, 20, of Ipswich, said: “I wanted to get my NVQ and I had previously worked in the Hospice shop in Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich, so when I heard about the Apprenticeship I immediately applied for it as I knew the Hospice was a nice place to work.

“I’m incredibly happy to have been offered a permanent position here; it feels like a dream job.”

Apprentices employed by the Hospice are paid a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. Off the job – usually on a day-release basis, they also receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications.