Trust to compete with top brands


 

University Hospital of North Staffordshire will go head to head with the likes of Marks and Spencer, O2 and DHL for a national award. The Trust's Healthcare Careers and Skills Academy is competing in Personnel Today's Award for Corporate Social Responsibility. The Academy has now secured four nomination's for national awards this year and is widely regarded throughout North Staffordshire.

The Personnel Today award would be recognition for the way University Hospital has tried to help both young and old into work. Ian Carruthers, education and training manager, said: "To be up against the likes of Marks and Spencer, DHL international and Co-OP is fantastic. It's important for the NHS to be seen alongside these types of organisations. The public sector doesn't have the resources to compete in these kind of categories with the private sector so this is very special."

Ian believes there are many ways in which the Trust can help everyone, from young people who are carers to the unemployed. He said: "The primary school children come into the academy to understand about healthy eating because children as young as five-years-old could be looking after a parent or a brother or sister. Our work with the unemployed meant we saw over 2,000 people and managed to get over 100 of those people jobs. Now we are also bringing in medical students from the local universities to work with sixth form students who are telling it as it is about life in medical school. They are best placed to give them an insight about what exactly they will go through."

Natasha Mills, young apprenticeship project support manager, said: "This nomination is a testament to the work the Academy has done out in the community increasing people's aspirations and making them aware of NHS careers. Many people think they need a degree to work in the NHS but that just isn't the case. You can start at ground level and work your way up. We are the experts when it comes to careers in the NHS and we will continue to try and help as many people as possible, old and young."

If any school or organisation would like to work with the Healthcare Careers and Skills Academy, please contact Natasha Mills on 01782 672277.