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As part of its core programme of work, the Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce hosted a hybrid roundtable event on 2^nd April 2025 with 88 online and in-person attendees from NHS trusts, NHS-England, local authorities, academia, public representative bodies and the charity sector. The event titled “Refreshing approaches to Widening Participation and Apprenticeships: The New Agenda?” sought to facilitate discussion about existing Unit work, to share current and best practice in Integrated Care Systems and Trusts, as well as discussing directions future research might take.

Speakers included: Professor Ian Kessler from the King’s Business School – contextualising the development of widening participation in the NHS; Jane Hadfield and Kirsty Marsh-Hyde from NHS England – covering the NHS apprenticeship and Skills for Life programmes; Rob Brooks from North-East London Health and Care Partnership and Anita Esser from University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust – both providing overviews of approaches to these agendas in their organisations.

Taking part in these studies

The roundtable event was held as part of studies undertaken within the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce’s programme of work. This work is ongoing and will include more in-depth research in a selection of NHS Trusts – if your Trust or Integrated Care System is interested in taking part, do get in touch at catherine.forward@kcl.ac.uk

>> Read more about the event on the Unit blog

Project pages at the Unit

• Evaluating the Implementation of Apprenticeships in Health and Social Care
• Widening Participation in the Healthcare Workforce