THE Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has been highly commended for the second year in a row for the success of its apprenticeship scheme.

The trust which runs Okehampton Hospital was successful in the Apprentice of the Year Awards run by Education + Training Skills (ETS), a specialist provider of work-based learning across the South West.

The trust was highly commended in the large employer of the year category at the awards ceremony at Buckerell Lodge in Exeter.

The trust works closely with local colleges and training providers and since 2008 has employed around 250 apprentices in healthcare assistant and business administration roles in North, Mid and East Devon.

The fifth annual awards were organised by Health Education South West, Skills for Health and the National Apprenticeship Service.

The awards tied in with National Apprenticeship Week, which celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals and employers.

Darryn Allcorn, director of workforce and development for the trust, said: 'We were delighted to receive further recognition for our apprenticeship programme.

'Apprenticeships offer an excellent opportunity for individuals to gain on-the-job experience, develop skills and see how different departments work together in a large and complex organisation, and are an ideal launchpad for a career in the NHS.

'Our latest awards success reaffirms the benefits and opportunities these schemes can bring, and we are actively looking to further promote apprenticeships as part of our overall recruitment strategy.'