How Katie balances studying and working in her apprenticeship

Choosing an apprenticeship means Katie is able to balance working in the Sheffield Children’s Hearing Services with studying for a degree at Aston University.

Katie said: “I had an interest in sign language whilst at school and was passionate about helping and supporting children with a hearing impairment. I’ve now been working in Hearing Services for five and a half years, starting as a Healthcare Science Apprentice before moving on to become a Senior Assistant Audiologist Apprentice.”

Katie is now three years into a five year training programme, aimed at becoming an audiologist.

She said: “One of my proudest moments as an apprentice was being able to test children’s hearing on the ENT clinic at Sheffield Children’s.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hearing Services – like all parts of the Trust – have taken extra steps to help keep staff, patients and visitors safe. This includes wearing the appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and social distancing.

“We are still able to do all of the procedures we did before COVID-19, we just take added precautions now. Our team is brilliant. We all chip in to help each other out on different clinics.

“There is a really clear career progression pathway on this course and the real advantage to this apprenticeship is that I am taught the theory and practical aspects of Audiology at university whilst learning hands-on here at Sheffield Children’s.

“My advice to anyone thinking about an apprenticeship is ‘go for it’. It’s the best thing I ever did!”