FOUR Isle of Wight Ambulance Service (IWAS) Emergency Vehicle Operatives (EVOs) are set to embark on the paramedic apprenticeship.

Adam, Lynsey, Kenny and Steve, join a cohort of twenty-four South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) Emergency Care Assistants next week

The four EVOs will study with the University of Cumbria both online and attending lessons, which are hosted by SCAS on the mainland.

They will all continue to work as part of an IWAS emergency ambulance crew with a paramedic mentor, completing supervised work-based learning.

The quartet successfully completed a bridging course with the University of Cumbria and their prior experience and knowledge enabled them to enter directly onto year two of a BSc in Paramedic Science.

To earn their degree they will commence their studies today (Monday) for two years.

Alasdair Hay, Isle of Wight Ambulance Service educator, said: “The IW Ambulance Service has been involved in the development of the new Paramedic Degree Apprenticeships from the start with a view to developing our own staff into future Paramedics.

"It is very exciting to now be in the position of seeing our first four apprentices embark on their studies as part of the third cohort nationally.”

Kenny, one of the four EVOs set to embark on the apprenticeship, said: "After six years as an EVO I decided that it was the right time for me to develop myself and progress within the Ambulance service.

"The Paramedic Apprenticeship program really suites me, being able to learn whilst working enables me to have a study/home life balance, which is really important to me.”