Aim Medical leadership and management (LM) is recognised as an essential facet of clinical practice; poor LM leads to poor patient outcomes. However, there lacks standardised, sustainable training for all clinical professions whilst clinician burnout, and associated risks of increased patient safety incidents, is a national concern. Through the Government Apprenticeship Scheme NHS Trusts have access to a ring-fenced budget that can provide funded, vocationally based, nationally benchmarked leadership and management (LM) training which can support staff LM development.

Methods In December 2017, through a partnership between the authors, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STEES) and Always Consult, a Registered Apprenticeship Training provider, the Foundation Leadership and Management (FLM) programme for Foundation Year 1 doctors (FY1s) was launched. Believed to be the first clinical LM Apprenticeship in the United Kingdom, FLM is mapped to the FY1 clinical curriculum and leads to a nationally recognised qualification enabling membership of two leading international LM bodies. FLM has been shown to increase FY1s’ preparedness for the LM challenges of practice and resilience.

Results FLM’s clinical LM Apprenticeship concept was used by STEES in 2018 to create a Ward Managers’ programme; further programmes for Allied Healthcare Professionals, Consultants, Matrons, Staff Grade Nurses and Trust Grade Doctors are planned. Other healthcare organisations, using the FLM concept, are currently preparing to launch clinical LM Apprenticeships including Health Education North East’s programme for Acute Care Common Stem Trainees.

Conclusions Clinical LM Apprenticeship programmes, such as FLM, can increase staff self-rated LM preparedness and resilience. Apprenticeships offer an opportunity to establish locally deliverable LM programmes, for all professions and levels, which holistically benefit staff in a resource constrained and challenging environment.