NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme (GMTS) |

Life-changing. For you. And potentially millions.

Shape the future of healthcare while accelerating your leadership career.

The NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme (GMTS) is one of the UK's leading graduate development programmes, offering a fast-track route into leadership careers within the NHS. Every day, NHS leaders make decisions that affect millions of patients, communities and colleagues. As a GMTS trainee, you'll take on meaningful work from day one, helping to address some of healthcare's biggest challenges while developing the skills, experience and confidence to become a future leader. 

With placements across England, GMTS combines real responsibility, structured development, funded postgraduate education and leadership training to help you build a rewarding career with purpose. Whether you're interested in people, operations, finance, technology or engineering, GMTS offers the opportunity to make a genuine impact while developing at pace. 

GMTS is designed for graduates with leadership potential who want more than a traditional graduate job.

As a trainee, you'll benefit from:

• Early leadership responsibility and meaningful project work. 
• A comprehensive development programme lasting two years, or 2.5 years for Finance and Estates Engineering Management trainees. 
• Fully funded postgraduate qualifications alongside paid employment. 
• Placements across NHS organisations, services and healthcare settings throughout England. 
• Leadership development through the NHS Rosalind Franklin Leadership Development Programme. 
• Dedicated support throughout the Scheme, including placement managers, programme managers, education support and trainee buddies. 
• Competitive salary on start and annual increases, annual leave entitlement, NHS pension benefits and access to one of the largest professional networks in healthcare. 

The Scheme is challenging and rewarding in equal measure, offering graduates the opportunity to develop leadership capability while making a tangible difference to healthcare services and patient outcomes. 

Choose your specialism

Whichever pathway you choose, you'll work on projects that improve services, support staff, drive transformation and help deliver better outcomes for patients. 

General Management

Lead teams, improve services and help shape the future of healthcare delivery. You'll gain experience across operational management, strategy, transformation and service improvement while developing as a future NHS leader. 

Human Resources

Support the people who deliver healthcare. You'll help attract, develop and retain talented staff while gaining experience in workforce strategy, organisational development, employee relations and leadership. 

Finance

Influence decisions that affect services, staff and patients. You'll develop professional finance expertise while helping NHS organisations make the best use of resources to deliver high-quality healthcare. 

Digital - Health Informatics

Use data, analytics and digital technology to improve healthcare services and patient outcomes. From digital transformation programmes to data-driven decision making, you'll help shape the future of healthcare innovation. 

Estates Engineering Management (EEM)

Help create and maintain the environments where healthcare happens. Working across hospitals and healthcare facilities, you'll develop technical, operational and leadership skills while supporting infrastructure, engineering systems, sustainability initiatives and major capital projects that enable safe and effective patient care. 

From day one, you'll be trusted with real responsibility and supported to grow.

Trainees undertake multiple placements that provide exposure to both operational and strategic challenges, helping build a broad understanding of how healthcare organisations work. A particular highlight is the Flexi Placement, a trainee-led opportunity that allows participants to gain leadership experience beyond traditional NHS settings. 

Alongside workplace learning, you'll complete a funded postgraduate qualification relevant to your specialism and participate in a range of leadership development opportunities designed to help you understand and apply your own leadership style

Each year, around 250 graduates join GMTS, becoming part of a thriving community of trainees, alumni and NHS leaders. Throughout the Scheme, you'll receive support from dedicated professionals and fellow trainees who are invested in your success

You'll have access to:

• Placement Managers
• Programme Managers
• Education Officers
• Trainee Support Managers
• Trainee buddies
• A nationwide alumni network
• NHS leaders and professional experts across the health sector 

Many former trainees have progressed into senior leadership and specialist roles across the NHS, helping shape healthcare at local, regional and national levels. 

We're looking for graduates with leadership potential, curiosity and a desire to make a difference.

You'll need at least a 2:2 degree. Beyond that, we're less interested in what you studied and more interested in your ability to learn, lead, collaborate and contribute. Whether your background is in business, social sciences, humanities, technology, engineering or another discipline, we're looking for people who can help shape the future of healthcare. 

The NHS is proud of its highly diverse workforce and is committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. The NHS GMTS is no different 

We provide healthcare to people from a wide range of backgrounds, communities and cultures, and we believe our workforce should reflect the people we serve. Applications are welcomed from all backgrounds and communities

GMTS offers a competitive salary and employment package, including NHS pension benefits. You’ll receive a minimum starting salary of £31,276 on commencement, plus where applicable (dependant on the location of your placement) the NHS High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS). 

In your second year you’ll receive a salary increase on successful completion of your probation. 

Graduates benefit from accelerated career development and strong progression opportunities across one of the world's largest and most complex organisations.

On average, trainees earn around £44,000 in their first NHS role after completing the Scheme. 

Start your journey here

When you join the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, you're not simply starting a graduate job. You're developing as a future leader while helping improve healthcare for millions of people.

It's not who you are. It's what you will become. Start your journey here

For more information about the Scheme, specialisms, benefits, eligibility requirements and trainee experiences, visit our website.