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Apprenticeships and the supply of podiatrists

Apprenticeships and the supply of podiatrists

The NHS People Plan

The NHS People Plan is also clear about shortages in the NHS podiatric workforce and the need for an increase in supply. In addition, the NHS Long Term Plan highlights many areas relevant to podiatry practice including prevention, ageing well, diabetes and respiratory conditions. Apprenticeships provide a sustainable solution to the increasing demand on the profession.

Whilst the employer meets the cost of the apprentice salary, 100% of the apprentice programme is funded through the apprenticeship levy accessed through your apprenticeship lead in an NHS Trust. Private sector employees can access government funding for 95% of the academic costs with support from the education provider.

Apprenticeship programmes in podiatry will support retention in the foot healthcare workforce as they offer the opportunity to attract health and social care staff into the profession, as well as to ‘grow’ existing support staff, so rewarding their commitment and experience with career development.

Many potential apprentices have long-term ties with their local area and are therefore more likely to stay on post-qualification. HEE statistics suggest as many as 77% stay with their employer.

Apprenticeships provide an opportunity for organisations to grow talent and develop a diverse, skilled and motivated workforce – both from existing staff and new entrants. They provide an opportunity for young people, school leavers and more mature people to enter the profession without the potential barrier of self-funding.

The Saks Report

In 2021 the publication of the Saks Report made recommendations to address some of the challenges facing podiatry. Apprenticeships have the potential to support the implementation of at least five of these recommendations:

Recommendations about the scope of practice of podiatry

5. Podiatry’s scope of practice needs to be revisited and extended beyond simply the foot and/or ankle to highlight its more holistic and positive role in service and other contexts.

Recommendations about the organisational and support structure of podiatry

9. The podiatry career structure needs enhancing with more supported opportunities to develop in advanced practice/specialisms like podiatric surgery and further use of mentoring.
10. There is a need to foster better links between podiatrists working in the NHS and the independent sector, particularly in dealing with moderate – high-risk patients.

Recommendations about increasing the sustainable supply of podiatrists

14. Priority attention should be given to the diminishing supply of podiatrists, especially in an increasingly ageing profession.
17. More use needs to be made of flexible educational approaches like apprenticeships with appropriate monitoring and quality.


Download the Saks Report

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