A mum-of-two who began her NHS career as an apprentice is celebrating after winning a top award for new Black Country talent in healthcare.
Laura Blake, who started as a neurophysiology receptionist apprentice at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust in 2022, won the award for Health, Education & Care Apprentice of the Year at the Ladder for the Black Country Apprenticeship Awards 2024, which took place at The Hawthorns football stadium in West Bromwich.
She was nominated by her apprenticeship trainer and assessor for coming up with a greener and more efficient way to process patient appointments, which has helped to reduce waiting lists, saving the neurophysiology department money and improving the experience of patients.
She developed her idea to fill appointment slots more efficiently using what she’d learned during her apprenticeship.
Thrilled to have won, Laura said: “It’s wonderful to have my work at the Trust recognised with this win, so I’m very happy. I want to thank my coach Mel Mason, the apprenticeship team at the Trust and my work family in neurophysiology for all the support they have given me throughout my apprenticeship journey.”
Laura completed her apprenticeship with a distinction in summer 2024 and has since secured a full-time role as a neurophysiology receptionist with the same team.
The Ladder for the Black Country champions apprenticeships in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton and their awards celebrates the success of talented individuals, employers and training providers from various industry sectors.
It was a fantastic night for Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, as Kulvinder Rattu, senior healthcare support worker and Lewis Moloney, team leader in sterile services, were also nominated in the Health, Education and Care Category.
The Trust was also shortlisted for Training Provider of the Year and the Education and Engagement Award.