University Hospital Southampton (UHS) is excited to offer a dynamic and hands-on opportunity to join our Graduate Management Training Scheme, which kicks off in September 2025.
We’re seeking graduates who are eager to roll up their sleeves and thrive in a values-driven, fast-paced, and evolving workplace. If you’re looking for a hands-on role where you’ll be at the forefront of healthcare service delivery, this is the Graduate Management Training Scheme for you. Set to begin in September 2025, this is a unique opportunity to kickstart your career with one of the UK’s largest and most respected NHS Trusts. You’ll gain invaluable operational management experience, and a post graduate apprenticeship qualification.
As an aspiring operational manager within UHS, this is not a desk job. You’ll be immersed in the day-to-day challenges of service delivery, working directly with frontline colleagues to solve problems and balance competing priorities to ensure that patients receive the best possible care. You’ll gain valuable operational insight and experience the fast-paced, hands-on environment that powers one of the largest teaching hospitals in England.
You’ll receive mentorship from a senior leader at UHS who will guide you through the programme. In addition to the work-based experience, you will also complete a formal operational management apprenticeship qualification and leadership programme with one of our national training partners.
We are proud to be ranked among the top 5 acute and acute community Trusts for staff having opportunities to develop their career at UHS and for having opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills, according to the 2023 NHS staff survey. Our previous graduates have praised our development approach and the wealth of opportunities available to them, alongside the vast networking possibilities. As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England and a major trauma centre, UHS is at the forefront of award-winning care, groundbreaking clinical trials, and numerous UK-first initiatives. As a University Hospital, our learning and development opportunities are unparalleled, and we are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential. In addition to a fulfilling career, our staff enjoy a wide range of NHS-related benefits, including discounts from national retailers and local businesses across categories such as holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones, and more.
What We’re Looking For:
During your recruitment journey, we will be evaluating your ability to:
• Foster and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse teams across the Trust, with a strong emphasis on face to face communication
• Work effectively under pressure, supported by an encouraging and motivated team
• Analyse problems and develop practical, workable solutions
The person specification document, attached, outlines the essential and desirable skills and experience required to succeed in this role. For a detailed description of the day-to-day responsibilities, please refer to the full job description, also attached.
Essential Application Criteria:
• You will have, or be predicted to achieve, a 2:2 or higher in any degree subject
• You will demonstrate UHS’s core values of Working Together, Patients First, and Always Improving
Apprenticeship Criteria:
These roles are funded by the Government Apprenticeship Scheme and do not offer visa sponsorship. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
• You should have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the past 3 years
• You must have permission from the UK government to live in the UK (for non-educational purposes) or hold pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
Additional Information:
Key dates for our Graduate Recruitment and Assessment Programme:
• Application deadline: 14 March 2025 (Please attach, in one file, your CV including evidence of how you demonstrate our values)
• Online testing deadline: w/c 21st March 2025
• Pre-screening interview deadline: w/c 7th April 2025
• Virtual Assessment Centre : 29th April 2025
• Final Interview Panel and UHS visit: w/c 5th May 2025
• Programme Start Date: 1st September 2025 (non-deferable)
Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications. We will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.
This advert closes on Thursday 13 Mar 2025