MOLLY Johnson had left college without the qualifications she was aiming for.

But now the 21-year-old's career is looking much "healthier" — thanks to an apprenticeship at Royal Bolton Hospital.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust — which runs the hospital as well as other health services in the town — has taken on four new apprentices in recent months and has more than 20 other staff who are also studying under apprenticeship programmes.

Health bosses also expect to increase the number of apprenticeships on offer in the near future.

Miss Johnson, from Breightmet, is currently in an 18 month contract as an apprentice office administrator in the headquarters of the trust.

She has a wide range of duties while still studying.

She said: “I love working here at the hospital. There’s always plenty to do and I’ve been made very welcome by all the members of staff I work with. I don’t get the Sunday night blues anymore and I look forward to coming into work and seeing what is waiting for me.”

Her supervisor at the trust is Victoria Lomas.

She said: “Molly has picked up things really quickly — she just gets on with it. We don’t know how we managed without her.”

School leaver Chris Naylor had applied for dozens of jobs over several months without success until he tried for an apprenticeship with the hospital.

The 18-year-old from Horwich said: “I was getting very disheartened and losing confidence.

“Even just getting an interview at the hospital was exciting, but getting the position was brilliant.”

Mr Naylor has been in his new role as an administrative assistant since October, arranging meetings, doing project work and setting up databases, while still studying for a diploma in business administration.

He added: “I can honestly say that I’m the happiest I’ve been and I now look to nothing but the future.

“That’s what this apprenticeship and the people I work with have given me. I’ve found a potential career, not just a job.”

Programme manager Jo Bolger, who supervises Mr Naylor at the hospital, said the former Rivington and Blackrod student had exceeded expectations.

She said: “He brought a lot of skills with him and has quickly been confident with people.

"We wanted to have an apprentice in our team not just to give them support, but also so we can grow our own staff for the future.

"There are lots of opportunities in the NHS.”