Article: “Studying doesn’t stop at GCSEs” Written by Jamie Oliver Tuesday 19 March 2024 Share Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email Kelly Craggs CMgr FCMI became a lead nurse at an NHS Trust. She went from dealing with cancer patients to developing teams, managing projects and helping to drive organisational change. She shares how a Senior Leadership Apprenticeship powered that pivot. “I had imposter syndrome at the start of the course and wondered what I’d got myself into,” laughs Kelly Craggs CMgr FCMI, speaking about the Level 7 Senior Leadership Apprenticeship she started at the University of Sunderland in 2021. Apprenticeships are important – here are five ways they could be better Solving the skills shortage: why apprenticeships matter “It was very business-oriented, with a lot of talk about competitive markets and corporate strategy. People from the private sector could rattle through those areas, but it was new to me.” Today, Kelly, 43, is the Macmillan Cancer Lead Nurse at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. Having qualified as a nurse in 2005, she spent four years as a staff nurse in surgery, before starting her cancer specialist role in 2009 at Sunderland Royal Hospital. In 2019, following the merger of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trusts, Kelly was appointed to her current lead role. Developing “that know-how” This dramatic career shift has required a huge dedication to learning. Want to discover more about Kelly’s lifelong learning journey? Login or register below for Free Instant Access Login If you are already registered as a CMI Friend, Subscriber or Member, just login to view this article. Confirm your registration Login below to confirm your details and access this article. Sign in with email Email remember me remember Forget? Please confirm that you want to switch off the "Sign in with email" remember me feature. Yes No Register for Free Access Not yet a Member, Subscriber or Friend? Register as a CMI Friend for free, and get access to this and many other exclusive resources, as well as weekly updates straight to your inbox. You have successfully registered As a CMI Friend, you now have access to whole range of CMI Friendship benefits. Please login to the left to confirm your registration and access the article. Article Our extensive range of articles are designed to keep you in the loop with all the latest management and leadership best practice, research and news. Members See More CMI Members have access to thousands of online learning and CPD resources. Learn more about our membership benefits Join The Community CMI offers a variety of flexible membership solutions, tailored to your needs. Find out more and get involved in the CMI community today.