Gallery: Students gain insight into NHS careers

Hundreds of young people from Ipswich and east Suffolk learnt more about the range of NHS career opportunities available to them.

More than 500 students visited the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) careers fair at Trinity Park, in Ipswich this week.

Organised by the Trust that runs Ipswich Hospital, as well as several community services, students learned about clinical and non-clinical roles such as dietetics, estates and facilities, finance, IT, ophthalmology and pathology, with demonstrations from doctors, nurses and other professionals.

In a further commitment towards local students, ESNEFT recently launched new health and care facilities for Year 10, 11 and sixth form students at Chantry Academy and Ipswich Academy.

Pete Cook, Director of Research, Innovation and Education at ESNEFT, said: “School pupils and students are the workforce for the future of the NHS.

“There are so many career and training options available in healthcare and the fair has been a fantastic way to show some of these and find out how students can work towards those.

“Studying while working is also possible through a number of on-the-job qualifications, such as apprenticeships.”

The Mayor of Ipswich, Cllr Stefan Long was a special guest at the event which is now in its fourth year.

ESNEFT Talent for Care lead, Kay Pilkington-Blacker, said: “What began as a small idea has become a vibrant, energetic day of inspiration.

“Each stand sparked imaginations as students tried their hands at practical activities, listened to real NHS staff stories and gained an authentic sense of the roles that keep our services moving.

“They were encouraged to ask about entry routes, qualifications, training pathways, and the many diverse careers that sit within the NHS family.

“We were also delighted to invite mayor Stefan Long to the careers fair, to show how much ESNEFT is engaged with our local schools and communities.”

Mayor of Ipswich, Cllr Stefan Long, said: “Events like this give young adults the chance to look beyond their school years and discover the wide range of pathways available to them after full-time education.

“I was very impressed by the variety of teams represented at the fair and how engaging they were.

“I spoke with many young people and staff throughout the event, and it was clear that everyone valued the opportunities on offer.”