Young people in Greater Manchester are accessing hands-on NHS career experience after the launch of a new T Level midwifery placement programme, addressing urgent workforce needs within the healthcare sector.
In a welcome development for aspiring midwives, college students can now gain real-world experience through NHS placements in midwifery, with more opportunities being rolled out soon. The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) is the first in Greater Manchester to host T Level midwifery cadets – students who are on placement at The Royal Oldham Hospital whilst combining their studies at Oldham College. Currently, there are five students on the scheme, working with the NHS maternity teams. They are set to begin extended clinical placements in September.
T Levels are two-year technical qualifications, introduced in England in 2020, that are designed to give young people a mix of classroom-based and industry experience, on an 80:20 balance. Whilst T Level Midwifery placements exist in other parts of England, this is a first for Greater Manchester, and part of a wider effort to grow the region’s health and care workforce.
The launch comes at a critical time: within Greater Manchester, midwifery is ranked among the top five most at-risk roles, with the profession facing a national shortage of over 2000 midwives, highlighting the urgent need for workforce growth [Source – Royal College of Midwives]. However, just last week the RCM announced, after surveying almost 1000 people, that over eight out of ten student midwives do not feel confident about securing a job following graduation, suggesting that workforce pressures are due to understaffing rather than a lack of midwives. The new T Level in the Manchester region offers a glimmer of hope: a practical, early-access route into midwifery, aimed at boosting confidence and building a sustainable pipeline of talent.
Oldham College T Level midwifery cadets, including Ifeoluwa Adesanya (second from left).
The students are the first in the city-region to join the programme, which is designed to provide hands-on experience and confidence within healthcare settings. The experience has already had a meaningful impact: Ifeoluwa Adesanya, one student pursuing the T Level, said
“Being part of the first group to take on midwifery placements in Greater Manchester has been such a valuable experience. It’s given me real insight into the job and the skills I’ll need to succeed in the NHS. I feel more confident about my future and excited to continue my journey in midwifery.”
More students will be able to enrol on the programme at Oldham College when it launches its full T Level Midwifery Pathway in September.
Backed by investment from Gatsby, a foundation set up by David Sainsbury which holds a commitment to strengthening young peoples technical skills through innovative programmes and career guidance, this initiative aims to support the growing demand for technical experience. It feeds into a broader effort to make careers such as midwifery more accessible and achievable for young people across the region.
Jenifer Burden MBE, Director of Programmes, Gatsby, said:
“We are very pleased to support this programme which offers young people practical, meaningful experience in healthcare. Collaborations like this, between local education providers and employers are crucial in both increasing the number of high-quality T Level industry placements for students and helping to address workforce shortages in vital areas such as midwifery.”
The initiative hopes to connect school, college, and career pathways to support more young people into NHS roles and grow the midwifery workforce, offering valuable lessons for other parts of the country and demonstrating how investment and technical education can be used to meet regional workforce needs. With over 400 students currently enrolled on health and science T Levels across Greater Manchester, the potential for long-term impact is significant.
At a time when confidence among student midwives is low, this initiative offers something practical and optimistic; a route into midwifery that begins earlier, builds experience, and supports young people into their career.
