Matt steps up to bat! Sheffield Children’s Student Pharmacy Technician wins Apprentice of the Year

Matt Southcott, a Student Pharmacy Technician at Sheffield Children’s, has been awarded The Sheffield College Apprentice of the Year for Health, Care, Dental and Pharmacy.

Matt is on the brink of completing his second year of a Pharmacy Services apprenticeship, delivered by Sheffield College, and was thrilled to be recognised for his commitment to learning new skills which allow him to support children, young people, and families at Sheffield Children’s.

Matt said: “I was surprised and quite taken aback! It was a really happy moment, and I was proud to be able to share it with my partner, tutor and peers who were with me at the event. It was one of many great moments throughout the evening and I was so grateful for the support that I’d had to get to that moment.”

Why an Apprenticeship?

Sheffield Children’s works with partners across the region to offer apprenticeships in a range of areas. Apprenticeships allow colleagues to gain solid practical experience of a specific area whilst also developing a solid theoretical foundation to build from.

Matt is in his fourth year of working at Sheffield Children’s. Starting with a two-year stint in the Aseptic Department, Matt made the move across to the Pharmacy Department, taking on his apprenticeship.

Matt said: “Apprenticeships are the best way to progress your career in this field. I was pretty apprehensive at first but one of my colleagues encouraged me to do it and it is the best decision that I have made in my career. I’m always building new skills and I’m looking forward to continuing putting these skills into practice and progressing my career at Sheffield Children’s.”

As part of his apprenticeship, Matt has enjoyed taking on a variety of roles across the Pharmacy Department. Matt said: “My days are really varied; I get involved in different sections of pharmacy so that I get a fully rounded experience as part of my qualification.”

“Currently, I’m working alongside the Medicine Management Technician team, supporting pharmacists, nurses, and doctors to make sure the different medicines for children and young people are being supplied on time and safely. It is the most challenging area that I’ve worked in so far, but it’s definitely allowing me to grow and learn more than I ever have.”

With assigned time to work on his college assignments, Matt is able to benefit from a blend of theory and practical work which creates a holistic learning experience.

Matt said: “I have a lot of college-based assignments, and a practical portfolio that we complete at Sheffield Children’s. One informs the other, they really go hand in hand. You need to develop the knowledge before putting it into practice, and being given time to complete this work means that I can balance my time effectively.”

Unlike many apprentices, Matt came into his apprenticeship at a later stage in his career. Having worked across a range of sectors, Matt was excited to take on a new challenge and was eager to learn more about the world of pharmacy.

Matt said: “I have already had a long career. I’m older than most apprenticeship students that I come across. I’ve been a chef, worked in training, and in a few different roles in the NHS. I’ve been able to draw on a lot of this career experience which I think has served me well in this role.”

Thanking the Pharmacy Team

As soon as Matt found out that he had won the award, he called members of his team at Sheffield Children’s, who were thrilled to hear the news. Matt said: “I was at the event with my partner and fellow apprentices, but my colleagues were the first people outside of the event that I called. Their reaction was so great! They have been amazing in supporting me throughout my time in this role and I really can’t thank them enough for all that they have done for me.”

Matt will finish his apprenticeship in summer 2025 and is excited to continue his work with the pharmacy team at Sheffield Children’s. Matt said: “My team is absolutely amazing; all of my mentors have passed on unique but helpful wisdom that I have been able to absorb. I’ve already accepted a role here once my apprenticeship comes to an end, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Congratulations Matt!