Everyone has the right to live, learn and work in safety, free from abuse, harm and neglect

Vocational training and the changing dynamics of the health and care sector

Public Health, Social Care and Childcare Services

The health and care sectors are one of the largest sectors providing medical services across different settings within hospitals and care homes due to an increasingly ageing population and high demand for medical and care services heightened with major setbacks and challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic which has created a service delivery vacuum. In addition, the loss of workforce has impacted service availability and delivery, creating an urgent need for the sector to bridge the gap.

In recent years, the opportunities for vocational training have been on the rise irrespective of the employer industry or sector. This can be attributed to the immediate value employers derive from apprentices equipped with the technical and hands-on skills required, especially in the healthcare sector. For the health and care sector, vocational training has played a massive role in filling the skill gap created by a shortage of healthcare practitioners, increasing the workforce, and improving medical service delivery. It has also helped to improve safety and maintain the high standard required in giving and receiving care.


With its incredible ability to transform the workplace, vocational training remains the ideal solution for employers. Its structured way of combining the required theoretical teaching with hands-on, on-the-job experience learning for specific roles places the learners in an advantageous position where both skills and education have been acquired. Furthermore, this learning structure ensures the learners take full ownership and responsibility for their learning, supported by robust training and assessments, ensuring learners get the best out of their studies.

Despite the benefits vocational education offers, there remains a misconception among school leavers who pursue a university education or join the job market and employers who need help recruiting apprentices in some sectors. The myth was that vocational training was only relevant in the building and construction trade and that apprentices were unskilled and inexperienced learners with a high possibility of churn.

Contrary to these popular myths, studies have shown that apprentices are productive in their roles and highly motivated by solid career progression and financial remuneration. Even though traditional academic achievements remain more reputable, employers are beginning to recognise the role apprentices play in the workplace and how it improves present employees’ skills and confidence levels.

Public Health, Social Care and Childcare Services

Explore our Public Health, Social Care and Childcare Services opportunities