GP academy helping local people into work as more than half secure employment
Past participants Leah Baxter-Leslie, Nicki McNeill and Anjali Jose pictured with Naomi Hutchinson, NFSU Business Support Manager, Brigid McNabb, key trainer with Academy, and Dr Windsor Murdock, non-executive member NFSU.
Thursday 24 September 2026
A programme designed to help local people into work while tackling recruitment needs in GP surgeries has recorded a 53% employment outcome after expanding from a Mid and East Antrim pilot to four academies in just 18 months.
From pilot scheme to employment
The Northern GP Federation Support Unit (NFSU) Medical Administration Academy gives participants eight weeks of practical training for roles within General Practice, with 87% of those taking part having never previously worked in medical administration.
Figures released by NFSU show an 83% completion rate, while 53% of participants have progressed into employment. A further 44% have achieved what NFSU describes as sustained employment.
Of those who secured and sustained work, 73% are now employed within NFSU member GP practices — meaning the programme is also helping surgeries recruit people who have been specifically prepared for the demands of medical administration.
Four academies in 18 months
Past participants Suzi Jarvis and Heather Goudy pictured at the Medical Administration Academy celebration & networking event.
The programme grew from an opportunity provided through Mid and East Antrim Labour Market Partnership, with NFSU Business Support Manager Naomi Hutchinson developing the original concept alongside Hayley Barr from the local partnership.
Since the first Academy, the initiative has expanded to four programmes delivered over 18 months in partnership with Mid and East Antrim and Antrim & Newtownabbey Labour Market Partnerships.
NFSU Project Coordinator Hannah Wilson now coordinates much of the programme’s organisation and delivery.
The eight-week course covers practical knowledge and skills for working in General Practice, helping participants understand the patient journey while learning from experienced practice staff and specialist trainers.
Support does not end when the course finishes. Participants are also signposted to vacancies and offered help with applications, interviews and further development opportunities.
A job that lasted beyond the Academy
Past participants of the Medical Administration Academy pictured at the celebration & networking event: Kaitlyn McMullan, Emily McAllister, and Marc Johnston.
Dr Alan Lewis, Chair of Antrim & Ballymena, pictured with Roger Kennedy, Strategic Planning & Performance Group (SPPG) Co-Director.
Among those returning for a recent recognition and networking evening was Suzi, who joined the first Academy in March 2025. By May that year she had secured a job with an NFSU member GP practice and, almost 18 months later, remains in the role.
The event brought together 16 previous participants alongside representatives from GP practices, councils, Labour Market Partnerships, trainers, the Strategic Planning and Performance Group, Federation Chairs and NFSU staff.
Naomi Hutchinson said the longer-term impact on participants had become the most important measure of the programme’s success.
“When we first started talking about the academies, we knew there was an opportunity to support both our GP practices and local people, but we couldn’t have anticipated how much it would grow over the following 18 months.
“The real success for us is what happens after those eight weeks — seeing people build their confidence, secure employment and become valued members of GP practice teams. Behind every statistic is an individual person, with their own circumstances, skills and ambitions.
“We are incredibly proud of what our participants have achieved and hugely grateful to our partners and funders for giving us the opportunity to get the academies started.”
Plans to expand across Northern Ireland
Dr Ian Lalsingh, chair of East Antrim, pictured with Nicki McNeill, past participant and Alderman Thomas Gordon, Mayor of Mid & East Antrim.
Councillor Henry Cushinan, Mayor of Antrim & Newtownabbey with Carrie Currie, Mayor Attendant, at the Medical Administration Academy celebration & networking event.
Participant feedback has also been positive, with NFSU reporting that 100% of those involved would recommend the Academy to others.
The organisation now wants to build on its partnerships with Mid and East Antrim and Antrim & Newtownabbey and extend the model into other council areas across Northern Ireland.
Its longer-term ambition is for all Northern GP Federation member practices to have the opportunity to benefit from the academies, rather than availability being determined by geographical funding arrangements. If that expansion can be achieved, a programme that began as a local pilot could provide both a new route into employment and a wider pool of trained medical administration staff for GP practices across Northern Ireland.
