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NHS Wales General Management Graduate Programme applications open!

Published: 20 January 2025

Apply now for the NHS Wales General Management Graduate Programme 2025/27.

The NHS Wales General Management Graduate Programme is now open for applications for the fourth cohort of management trainees (2025/27).  The programme offers a unique career opportunity and we will be looking for aspiring leaders who can drive excellence through creative and innovative thinking to improve the experience and health for the people of Wales. 

The two year, work based programme is designed for aspiring future leaders of NHS Wales who want to influence and champion change to improve health and care services in Wales.

As part of the programme, successful applicants will complete a fully funded MSc Applied Health Leadership and benefit from hands-on learning, mentoring and non-clinical training, enabling them to develop skills in management and compassionate leadership.

Throughout the programme, participants will undertake placements in their allocated organisation, covering primary and secondary care, as well as corporate teams.

To apply, participants must have attained or be predicted to receive a minimum of a 2:2 in any degree discipline and share the values of NHS Wales, be committed to a public service career path and throw everything into learning as much as possible with us.

Current Graduate Trainee at Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Emily McCann said:

The graduate programme give you exposure to lots of different managerial areas, offering you a challenging but rewarding start to an NHS management career.  There are countless opportunities to learn and grow personally and professionally allowing you to develop.  Most importantly, the learnings from your postgraduate masters will link directly to your everyday work so you can put the concepts you learn into practice”.

Graduate Programme Manager at HEIW, Claire Monks, said:  “Having a talent pipeline of future managers in NHS Wales is crucial.   Through this programme we are able to provide organisations with future compassionate leaders in various roles throughout Wales.  Attracting diverse and top-tier talent we are able to contribute to the overall success and growth of NHS Wales, helping to build a sustainable foundation for the future."

Find out more about the programme and application process.

There are various stages to the application process, please read the Trac instructions carefully and visit our Gwella Leadership Portal for all stages.

Applications for the programme, which will commence in September 2025, will close on 2 March 2025.

We will be visiting universities with our pop up stand on the below dates. Students can come along to learn more about the graduate programme and the application process. This is a great opportunity to speak with the team and get valuable information about this outstanding opportunity within NHS Wales.

  • Monday 27 January - University of South Wales 11-1pm
  • Thursday 30 January - Cardiff Metropolitan 11-1pm
  • Monday 3 February - Bangor University 11-2pm
  • Tuesday 4 February - Aberystwyth University 11-1:30pm
  • Wed 12 February - Cardiff University - 11-2pm
  • Monday 17 February - University of Wales Trinity St David – 10-1pm – site TBC (either Swansea or Carmarthen)
  • Friday 21 February - Swansea University 11-1pm

If you have any questions or queries, please email heiw.graduateprogramme@wales.nhs.uk