Andrea qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1988 and has held a variety of posts over her 36 year career in the NHS. She is passionate about widening participation and access to nursing careers through development, nurturing, education, mentoring, and coaching. 

In 2017 University Hospitals Birmingham was identified as a pilot site for the introduction of the Nursing Associate role, which Andrea has led the introduction and growth of this role for the last four years. The Trust now has 340 Trainee Nursing Associate apprentices including those starting their nursing careers with the Trust straight from higher education and more mature apprentices bringing depth to the role with their life experiences. 110 qualified Nursing Associates now work across multiple clinical specialities, all of whom completed their apprenticeships in the Trust.