NHS work experience opportunities high on student’s wish list
260 students and families signed up to learn more about careers in London’s health sector.
As part of the Mayors Academies Programme, a programme focused on championing London’s skills offer and supporting Londoners to gain the skills they need to enter into good work, we attended Skills London, the UK’s largest jobs and careers event for 14-24 year olds, along with representatives from North East London, South West London and North West London Integrated Care Boards and supported by Health Careers Ambassadors, to engage and inspire young people to consider a job in the sector, promoting the 350 job roles available and the entry points and access routes through them.
Careers Ambassadors are individuals who have experience in the job they’re promoting and can talk with passion about their jobs and why healthcare careers are such worthwhile roles to consider. Event participants were introduced to Allied Health Professionals from North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT), Lecturers in Nursing from University of East London (UEL), Nurses from SW London and given guidance and support on NHS roles that may be suitable for them.
The local career opportunities in health and social care are diverse, ranging from data and digital technology to patient facing services. Skills London was a great opportunity to showcase these roles to young people & offer help and advice on qualifications, apprenticeships and career pathways.
Stewart Weller, Programme Manager, North East London Integrated Care Board
With over 350 job roles in health and social care and approximately 9000 job vacancies available locally, the opportunities are there for our young people. We just need to help them find the right job for them.
Participants also competed against each other in a “Fastest Surgeon Wins” Operation game, given an opportunity to see and experience some of the digital health technology available within the sector and play quizzes to help them determine suitable health careers based on their skills and likes and dislikes.
The majority of the visitors to the stand were aged between 16-17 and indicated that they would like to know more about work experience opportunities, with accessibility to apprenticeships and information on entry level roles also big topics of conversation.
