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Lizzie Mapplebeck

Lizzie Mapplebeck Apprentice of the Year (Suffolk Adult Learners’ Awards 2022)

Lizzie started the Level 7 Master of Business Administration (MBA) apprenticeship with Suffolk Business School at the University of Suffolk in September 2019, when employed by Suffolk and North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Groups as the Head of Corporate Transformation.

During the apprenticeship Lizzie has been promoted within the same employing organisation to manage more complex and strategic programmes. Lizzie says ‘There were many barriers to overcome studying a Level 7 qualification whilst working full-time in the NHS during the pandemic and managing family life, but the University of Suffolk have provided such a great deal of support through expert academics and peer networks it was made much easier. I truly feel the apprenticeship has supported me to believe that life long learning and being put out of your comfort zone is so beneficial to becoming your best self both at work and at home.’

Lizzie was also awarded the Outstanding Apprentice of the Year award as part of the Suffolk Adult Learner Awards in June 2022. Lizzie expressed her happiness at receiving the award by saying ‘It was truly an honour to be recognised for my tenacity and approach to the apprenticeship, I feel very lucky to be supported by a wonderful employer and have had the opportunity to study at the University of Suffolk. I left education after A Levels and never thought I would have the opportunity to study again; I would love this to inspire other adults that a learning journey doesn’t have to follow a prescriptive process and you are never too old to go back into the classroom!’

Lizzie’s dissertation research sought to understand if health alliances could perform as successful alliances during service and provider alignment, the outcomes of which have now gone forward to further inform commissioning and procurement processes within the wider NHS. Lizzie achieved the Master of Business Administration (MBA) with Distinction, which was awarded in 2022.