Nottingham CityCare Partnership uses apprenticeships as a strategic workforce development tool to upskill existing staff, enhance retention and build long-term organisational capability. Here, Apprenticeship and Career Engagement Manager Emma Cross explains how a close, supportive partnership with Damar Training is helping colleagues gain recognised qualifications and apply practical expertise.
Strategic workforce development at CityCare
For Nottingham CityCare Partnership, apprenticeships are an integral part of long-term workforce planning. Following the creation of a dedicated Apprenticeship and Career Engagement Manager role in 2023, Emma has led the expansion of CityCare’s apprenticeship provision across the organisation.
The strategy focuses primarily on upskilling existing employees, creating clear progression pathways and equipping teams with specialist capabilities to meet evolving healthcare demands.
“Apprenticeships aren’t just a training programme; it’s about strategic workforce development,” Emma explained. “They boost retention, support job satisfaction and develop staff skills for the organisation’s future needs. We are future-proofing our staff and giving them meaningful opportunities to apply their learning into practice.”
By investing in continuous professional development, CityCare has seen positive impacts on staff engagement and retention, with apprentices continuing to develop their careers and progress within the organisation.
A collaborative, responsive partnership
CityCare’s relationship with Damar Training began when exploring specialist training for data protection and information governance professional, James Foulds. CityCare needed a provider offering high-quality delivery alongside the operational flexibility required in a busy healthcare setting.
Open communication and proactive account management have been central to this partnership. Emma works closely with Damar to review learner progress and address potential issues early, ensuring apprentices receive the right support before operational pressures can cause disruption. When workplace demands shift or personal circumstances arise, such as quickly arranging a temporary break in learning, Damar provides swift, practical solutions that reduce stress for both the apprentice and their team.
“The support from Damar has been really responsive. Having regular progress updates means we can address any issues early and that personal relationship makes Damar high on our list when we look at future development needs. It gives us real confidence as our apprenticeship provision grows,” Emma shared.
Learner spotlight: James Foulds
James joined CityCare in March 2024, bringing around a decade of experience in information governance. While managing a broad range of responsibilities – including supporting the data protection officer, delivering internal training, managing subject access requests, conducting audits, and completing data protection impact assessments – he did not hold a formal qualification in the discipline.
Undertaking the Data Protection and Information Governance Apprenticeship with Damar has allowed James to consolidate his practical background with recognised professional standards and bring external best practice directly into CityCare’s governance operations.
“The support has been very good. My tutor has been great with feedback and keeping me on track, and the workshops with subject matter experts really bring the learning together,” James said.
Key takeaways
- Upskilling and retaining existing talent: By investing in apprenticeships for current staff, CityCare has strengthened employee engagement and reduced turnover, whilst ensuring colleagues develop the specialist knowledge their roles demand
- Building future workforce capability: Apprenticeships allow CityCare to develop internal expertise in critical areas such as information governance, reducing dependency on external recruitment and creating a more resilient, knowledgeable workforce
- Applying learning to improve practice: As apprentices develop their knowledge, they bring updated compliance insights, industry best practice and fresh perspectives directly into their departments, helping to refine processes and enhance service delivery across CityCare
- Apprenticeships are a relationship: A supportive training provider and supervisor can be a key differentiator and contributor to a successful apprenticeship.