NHS Finance Insights placement scheme – South West

About the Scheme:

The NHS Finance Insights placement scheme offers paid work experience in NHS organisations throughout England to individuals aged 18 and above, who do not plan to attend university and come from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

The scheme aims to attract diverse talent from local communities served by the NHS into the finance sector. It provides a 12-month experience in an entry-level (band 2) finance role, allowing candidates to develop new skills and gain on-the-job work experience. Upon completion of the placement, each candidate should feel well-prepared to apply for NHS opportunities, including apprenticeships or other entry-level roles, and be confident in transitioning to professional working environments.

Entry requirements:

The initiative aims to support individuals aged 18+ in full-time education from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and applicants interested must meet the following criteria:

• Attending state school or college, or have done within the past two years, minimum Grade C / 4 in GCSE Maths is desirable but not essential, and
• Not planning on attending university, and
• The occupation of your main household earner is categorised as a lower socio-economic background*, or
• Have been eligible for free school meals** at any point in the previous six years

*Parental occupation classification is a national standard, and the Social Mobility Work’s toolkit (found here) provides details on the categorisations. 

**Free School Meals are a statutory benefit available to school-aged children from families who receive other qualifying benefits and who have been through the relevant registration process. It does not include those who receive meals at school through other means e.g., boarding school.

We are also interested to hear about any extra-curricular activities and hobbies/interests that may
help support an application.

Benefits of applying:

• Starting salary from £24,465 per annum
• Access to training from recognised bodies
• Access to qualifications from CIPFA
• Blue Light Card – discounts across 100s of stores
• Health Service Discounts – access to further discounts
• 27 days paid annual leave + bank holidays
• 2 days paid leave for volunteering
• Plus many more NHS employee benefits

Placements are available in each region of England starting in September 2026 and will provide:

• 12 months of on-the-job experience in an entry-level finance role
• Experience working in an office, with hybrid and flexible working patterns
• Rotations through different departments within finance to gain exposure to various areas and projects
• Opportunities to work with a wide range of diverse and talented people across the NHS
• Insight into how the NHS operates as a business and how finance teams support services delivered to patients in local communities
• Training and development throughout the 12 months
• Attendance at online and in-person events
• The chance to meet and network with your peers on the placement scheme across the country

Are you interested in applying?

If you are interested and eligible to apply for the scheme then you can do so via the below link. Before completing the application form it is recommended that you read through the application guidelines to ensure you submit the best application possible.

Apply here: 2026 cohort application form.

Applications will close at 8th May 2026, 17:00.

“I highly recommend the Insights Placement Scheme to anyone leaving school and considering a career in
finance. It offers an excellent introduction to the industry and provides a valuable
professional network that can benefit you for years to come.”  Hanad Mohamed, Insights Placement Trainee, North Bristol NHS Trust

The Scheme in the South West:

This scheme operates across all 7 NHS regions in England, including the South West. Previously, four trainees started their placement in September 2024 across Bristol, where we piloted the scheme. These students are currently in post.

Starting from September 2026, there are 3 placements available across the South West. The host organisations for these placements were:

• Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Sirona Care and Health CIC
• University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust

If you wish to learn more about the scheme in the South West, please contact charley.spicer@hfma.org.uk.