In the Spotlight - Erin Blow

26 November 2025

This month, ‘In the Spotlight’ is Erin Blow, a Network75 Trainee who recently started a five-year placement with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board as part of her degree in Business and Management at the University of South Wales.

Erin joined the Health Board just two months ago, coinciding with the start of her undergraduate degree. The Network75 course combines academic learning with real-world experience, so Erin works three days each week within the Health Board’s Equality and Inclusion team while also attending two days of lectures at university. The scheme provides a monthly bursary and covers tuition fees.

Erin first discovered Network75 while in sixth form at her school in Pontypridd. “I didn't like the idea of having bad debt,” she said. “And you get so much more experience. You can take what you're doing in the lesson and bring it into work rather than just sitting through the lecture. And at the end of your degree you've got all that experience. It's really helpful for that.”

When asked to choose a preferred host organisation, Erin didn’t hesitate to choose the NHS. “My mum recently got a job in Velindre and she loves it. I wanted to go into something that was actually important.”

Erin’s work so far has involved actively promoting the NHS Wales Staff Survey, as well as updating the intranet, booking meetings and helping to send out invites for leadership management courses. From roadshows to walk-arounds, Erin has been out and about engaging with colleagues across the Health Board.

“I went to the Dental Hospital yesterday,” she said. “We did a walkaround encouraging staff to fill out the Staff Survey. We went to the Dental Labs where they were making the dentures. It was really good to see. They were hand carving teeth. It was boiling because they work with heaters to fire the ceramic teeth. We took the iPads and they all completed the Staff Survey.”

Her visits have taken her to some interesting places, from Medical Records deep in the tunnels to the Children’s Hospital. “I love the hospital environment. Getting out and bringing attention to the survey is important. Going there, seeing staff, telling them about it - it is much better than an e-mail.”

Erin believes the Staff Survey is a good opportunity to shape the future of NHS Wales. “It’s a good idea for the NHS to see what goes on. It’s hard to filter through everything, every department. This is all in one place - everything that’s right, everything that’s wrong. It's much easier to access and its easier to make changes when you can see each year how things are improving or not.”

Despite only being in the Health Board a couple of months, Erin already feels settled. “I've been made so welcome,” she said. “I was nervous because I’d never been in an office setting, but it's been really, really good. There's a lot of teamwork. If I have any questions, I can ask anyone. They trust me with a lot, which is nice.

All colleagues from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board are invited to complete the NHS Wales Staff Survey. It closes on Monday 1st December. Don’t let this opportunity to voice your views and share your experiences be missed. Please click here to complete the survey online.

People are at the centre of everything we do. Those who work at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board make a difference to people’s lives every single day.

Each month, the In The Spotlight campaign shines a light on the different people who make up Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, from those who support behind the scenes, to those who have passions that led them to work in their role.

As an organisation with over 17,000 colleagues, the campaign will highlight the variety of roles, teams and individuals across the health board. Working in the NHS can be life-changing, both for colleagues and for the patients they help.