We are pleased to announce the appointment of two new Council Apprentices who will be joining our Council and committees from 31 January 2026.
Now in its sixth year, the Council Apprenticeship scheme provides registrants with a unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience of governance and leadership at Council level.
By bringing new and diverse perspectives into Council discussions, the scheme supports more inclusive decision-making and helps strengthen the HCPC’s approach to professional regulation.
This year’s apprentices were selected from a competitive pool of applicants on the basis of their interest in the work of the HCPC and their ambition to take part in governance groups. We look forward to seeing the valuable insight they will bring to the HCPC’s governance and work.
Sharing her excitement to welcome the new apprentices, Christine Elliott, Chair of the HCPC Council, added:
‘Welcoming apprentices to the HCPC Council is now a tradition, and one I am especially proud of. Our Council Apprentices do not have prior boardroom experience and so this represents for them quite a special opportunity. Council and the HCPC benefit from the apprentices' insights, verve and differently diverse perspectives on our decision-making, policy formation and culture. A winning combination! ’
Meet our new Council Apprentices:
Grzegorz Drozdz
Grzegorz is a registered physiotherapist with more than 15 years of experience spanning acute, community, and rehabilitation services. Since 2018, he has been Trust Falls Lead and Senior Specialist Physiotherapist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, providing strategic leadership for organisation‑wide governance and quality improvement initiatives that enhance patient safety and multidisciplinary collaboration. He holds a Masters in Physiotherapy from the Academy of Physical Education, alongside an MBA.
‘I applied for the HCPC apprenticeship to deliberately step outside my clinical and operational comfort zone and to deepen my understanding of how the regulator strengthens the relationship between registrants and public protection. I am keen to develop insight into non-executive scrutiny, risk appetite setting, and how policy is translated into regulatory standards, guidance, and education expectations, while learning directly from both the Council and Executive team. The opportunity for senior mentorship and exposure to board-level dynamics within a national regulator will be invaluable to my development as a system leader. ’
Dabbi Taylor
Dabbi is a registered occupational therapist working within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Glasgow. He is recognised for his role as Student Representative on the HCPC’s Education and Training Committee, where he contributes to national education and training discussions. His clinical work centres on fostering psychological safety and opportunity for young people affected by trauma and mental health challenges. Dabbi completed the Council of Deans of Health Student Leadership Programme in 2025 and is a published author, most recently contributing The Language of Psychological Safety: A Neurodivergent Perspective to OT News.
‘I applied because my values align strongly with the HCPC’s, and because lived experience and frontline work have shown me the real impact and ripple effects of regulation. I’ve spent much of my personal and professional life adapting to systems rather than feeling protected by them, and that directly influences how I think about power and accountability. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring that lens into governance.’