Early careers

Your career can make a difference.

It takes all types to take us forward, and our early careers options are all about nurturing new talent and helping them build a brilliant career.

We want to see our workforce grow and thrive, and we’re making that happen by helping all our people develop.

Whether you’re early in your career journey and want to grow your skills and experience, or you’re looking for a career change and want to do something completely different, we have career options for you.

Our apprenticeships, placements and work experience programmes are brilliant pathways for people of all backgrounds and experience to build long-term career prospects and start a lifelong career where they can truly make a difference.

Apprenticeships

We believe in growing our workforce by helping people develop. That’s why we offer apprenticeship programmes across many types of roles in our organisation.

With a mix of on the job learning and studying, our apprenticeships are a great way to start building a fantastic career. At the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll have a recognised qualification that employers expect, as well as invaluable practical experience.

Search our vacancies hub for the latest apprenticeship opportunities
"We’ve seen first-hand the wonderful impact our apprentices have on the organisation. They’re supported to gain a nationally recognised programme, alongside valuable hands-on experience working whilst they learn, helping them to progress in their working life."
Mel, Learning Services Manager, Apprenticeships and Placements

Science placements

Trainee biomedical scientist sandwich placements

This scheme is available to students from Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) accredited BSc degrees.

It supports them to complete the IBMS Registration Training portfolio, whilst gaining valuable experience in an operational lab during a placement of 40 to 48 weeks.

Search our vacancies hub for our current trainee vacancies.

Scientist training programmes

We support specialist training for scientists, including the Scientist Training Programme and Higher Specialist Scientist Training programme.

Find out more about training for scientists on our scientific and research roles page.

Non-science placements

NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme

Since 2019, we have hosted graduates as part of the national NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme. We are also sometimes able to host graduates on the flexi-placement element of the scheme.

We host graduates in the following areas:

  • general management
  • human resources
  • finance
  • health informatics

Applications usually close in October and start the following September. We cannot accept direct applications for this scheme. You should register your interest and apply through the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme directly.

If you are interested in a flexi-placement opportunity at NHSBT, please email hrdirect@nhsbt.nhs.uk.

Health Data Research UK’s Black Internship Programme

This internship programme, co-ordinated by Health Data Research UK, recognises data science is a rapidly expanding field that has the potential to transform the future of health and care for all. It also seeks to address the urgent need for new health data scientists. Launched in 2021, it is transforming the prospects of talented Black health data scientists in the UK by providing opportunities to thrive in STEM careers.

The programme offers a paid summer internship (minimum 8 weeks) providing real world experience to apply and develop data science skills in the workplace.

Applications usually open in November and start the following July. We cannot accept direct applications for this scheme. You should register your interest and apply through Health Data Research UK directly.

Project SEARCH supported internships

Supported internships are a structured, work-based study programme for 16 to 24-year-olds with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan.

Supported interns are enrolled and supported by a learning provider, for example, a school or college, but spend most of their learning time – typically around 70% – in a workplace. The internships provide the opportunity for young people to achieve sustained, paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace.

We’ve partnered with Project SEARCH to provide young adults with a learning disability or autism spectrum conditions, or both, with a real world workplace experience and job skills. We offer interns a series of three placements lasting 10-12 weeks each academic term, allowing them to explore careers and develop marketable job skills.

Interns are supported on site by a dedicated job coach. 60% of Project SEARCH graduates achieve full-time, permanent employment – compared to the average in England of 4.8% of people with a learning disability who are known to local authorities.

Supported internships have been hosted in our Filton centre in Bristol since 2022, with plans to expand our participation to Barnsley and Newcastle centres.

NHSBT cannot accept direct applications for this scheme. You should register your interest with and apply to the City of Bristol College internship programme for the Filton internship.

Support for student nurses

We’re dedicated to supporting our student nurses. Working closely with our university partners, we aim to create a great learning environment and help you make the most of your placement here.

Work experience for school and college students

If you are interested in work experience at NHS Blood and Transplant, please contact hrdirect@nhsbt.nhs.uk with your requirements (dates, location, training needs, age and level of education).

For more information on careers in healthcare and biomedical science, visit the resources below: