Bristol NHS Foundation Trust have been ranked in the top 100 Apprenticeship employers in two sets of national rankings.
Celebrating the Government’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers Achievement
We are delighted to announce that we have been recognised as one of the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026, as ranked by the Department for Work and Pensions and Higherin. Achieving an impressive 62nd place, ahead of well known organisations such as McDonald's and Royal Mail. This is a fantastic accomplishment and a testament to our commitment to developing our workforce through apprenticeships.
This recognition highlights the quality, breadth and impact of the apprenticeship programmes available across our organisation, and the valuable opportunities they provide for colleagues to enhance their skills, progress their careers and achieve their professional goals. This award is judged on not only the data submitted about the number, level and diversity of apprenticeships we support but also apprentice reviews and feedback.
This success would not have been possible without the collective contribution of our apprentices, line managers, mentors, learning providers and supporting teams. A huge thank you and congratulations to everyone involved in this achievement. Your efforts are helping to build a skilled, capable and future ready workforce.
The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprentice Employer Ranking
Furthermore, we are pleased to share that both Southmead and City and Weston Hospital operating units have been recognised in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026, ranking 16th and 18th in the Health & Social Care sector respectively. This prestigious national ranking celebrates employers that demonstrate outstanding commitment to apprenticeships through recruitment, diversity, and successful learner outcomes.
Across Bristol NHS Foundation Trust we continue to invest significantly in workforce development, supporting around 800 apprentices across the Trust. The Trust also celebrated the successful completion of 266 apprenticeships during the year, highlighting the impact apprenticeships have in supporting career development and creating opportunities for colleagues across the organisation.
These achievements reflect the dedication of our apprentices, managers, mentors, educators, and workforce development teams who continue to champion apprenticeships as a key route for learning, development, and career progression. We are proud to be recognised nationally for our commitment to developing the workforce of the future.
Director of Learning and Workforce Development at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Jean Scrase, said:
"Bristol NHS Foundation Trust continues to be committed to developing our workforce through high-quality apprenticeships that help our colleagues grow and succeed.
“Receiving these high rankings in the Government’s and the Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers is a fantastic achievement and reflects the positive impact of our programmes, partnerships and learners.
“My sincere thanks and congratulations to our apprentices, their managers, training providers and Apprenticeship Team for making this possible."
Apprenticeship Relationship Team Lead at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Paula Ward, said:
"It has been incredibly rewarding to support such a diverse range of apprenticeships across the organisation and to see first-hand the positive impact they have on our colleagues.
“One of the most exciting aspects of our apprenticeship journey has been discovering new programmes and creating opportunities for people to develop their knowledge and skills and seeing the impact it has directly on patient care.
“Apprenticeships are a powerful way to invest in our workforce, helping colleagues to grow in confidence, achieve their career ambitions and build the knowledge and skills our organisation needs for the future.
“This recognition is a fantastic reflection of the commitment and enthusiasm shown by our apprentices, managers and partners, and I am incredibly proud that this has been recognised in these rankings."
