Early Career Scheme
One of the biggest care home groups, Barchester, has launched a new Early Career scheme to help more people into a career in care.
2025 was a landmark year for Barchester in terms of numbers of completed apprenticeships and e-learning courses. The company recorded 38,686 learners on its e-learning platform in just one month, the highest ever volume, and 616 apprentices gained the benefits that apprenticeships bring with on the job experience, an increase of over 100 apprenticeships compared with 2024.
‘Incredible journey’
Pippa Munnoch, senior care assistant at Shawford Springs Care Home, said: “Completing my Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker qualification has been an incredible journey.
“Achieving a distinction was a proud moment, and I have been honoured to receive recognition for this accomplishment, including being featured in local newspapers, receiving a letter of congratulations from the House of Commons and being nominated for Learner Of The Year. I’m proud to be part of a team that truly invests in its people and celebrates their achievements.”
Statistics show that out of the Barchester apprentices who completed their courses in 2025, 83% are still in post after six months, 74% have been promoted and 88% gained either a Merit or a Distinction on completion of their course. The company was named a finalist in the National Apprenticeships and Skills awards in the large employer category and it was named a Top 100 Large Employer by Rate My Apprenticeship.
Sarah Clifford, head of apprenticeships and digital learning systems said: “We have had an exceptional year with the successful launch of four new apprenticeships in 2025, we are delighted with the progress all of our apprentices have made in their careers and the positive feedback we have received both from them and their colleagues.
“We’re ambitious for growth, this year we will have over 700 apprentices in programmes. The launch of our new ‘Boost Apprenticeships’ brand and Early Careers schemes, we hope will mark the start of another very successful year.”
‘Future leaders of our business’
Barchester Healthcare’s chief executive, Dr Pete Calveley, added: “The work that Sarah and her team are delivering is incredibly important, they are nurturing the future leaders of our business. By investing in these apprenticeship programmes, we are ensuring the way we work is instilled in our teams early on in their careers. I am exceptionally proud of all our apprentices and the hard work they have all put into gaining their qualifications, they are all a credit to Barchester and I look forward to watching them progress and flourish in our business.”
You can search for care jobs on the homecare.co.uk jobs board.
