Health and social care organisations across Greater Lincolnshire face the ongoing challenge of inspiring the next generation of talent and helping young people understand the wide range of careers available within the sector.
To help address this, University Campus North Lincolnshire (UCNL) partnered with the Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub to deliver an immersive work experience event designed to connect students with employers and showcase the breadth of opportunities available across health, medical bioscience, counselling and wellbeing.
The event brought together 22 students in Years 9 and 10 from Winterton Community Academy, Melior Community Academy and St. Bede’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, providing them with the opportunity to explore different career pathways through practical, hands-on activities and conversations with professionals working in the sector.
Bringing careers to life through real-world experiences
Rather than traditional workplace visits, the event created a simulated healthcare environment where students followed a patient journey from accident through to recovery. This allowed them to explore the different roles involved in supporting patient care, from clinical and laboratory careers through to wellbeing, counselling and support services.
Through interactive activities, students investigated an accident scene, carried out patient assessments, explored holistic care planning, experienced laboratory and imaging technology, and took part in mental health and counselling exercises. By experiencing different stages of the patient journey first-hand, students gained a broader understanding of how a wide range of professions work together to deliver care.
For employers, events like this provide an opportunity to engage directly with future talent, challenge perceptions of their industry and showcase career pathways that young people may not have previously considered.
This is particularly valuable in sectors such as health and social care, where traditional workplace experiences can sometimes be difficult to deliver due to operational requirements, safeguarding considerations and the nature of the working environment. By bringing employers and students together in an interactive setting, organisations can create meaningful connections while giving young people an authentic insight into their sector.
The event was supported by local employers including NHS Humber Health Partnership, Now Then Coaching, HTG UK, North Lincolnshire Council, Art Desk Creative Studio and Caremark, who helped students explore the wide range of careers available across the sector.
Through conversations and activities, students discovered opportunities spanning radiography, patient transport, coaching, art therapy and even marketing roles within care organisations, broadening their understanding of the sector beyond traditional clinical careers.
The hands-on approach made a strong impression on both students and staff. Harry Marks, Programme Lead for Professional Practice in Health and Social Care at DN Colleges Group, highlighted how the event helped students understand the different stages of the care process and explore career opportunities they may not have previously considered. He also praised the professionalism, curiosity and engagement shown by students throughout the day.
Employers also recognised the value of creating these early connections.
"We really enjoyed attending the UCNL event as radiographers and meeting a wide range of enthusiastic students and introducing them to the world of Radiography. We enjoyed seeing them get involved in our image interpretation ‘spot the fracture’ and anatomy quiz. We hope we inspired some young people to consider a pathway into a very rewarding career and look forward to doing more events in the future."
Amber Petyt, Educational Lead Radiographer at Scunthorpe General Hospital
Maddy Khan, Director and Lead Artist at Art Desk Creative Studio, also highlighted the importance of showing students how creative approaches can support wellbeing and recovery, helping them understand the wider connections between creative industries and health and social care.
A model for future employer engagement
The impact of the event extended beyond the day itself. Students left with a broader understanding of the sector, greater awareness of local career opportunities and valuable conversations with professionals working in roles they may not have previously encountered.
For employers, the event provided a valuable opportunity to build awareness of their sector, inspire future talent and demonstrate the variety of career pathways available.
Events like this show the important role employers can play in developing future workforce pipelines. By creating meaningful experiences of the workplace for young people, organisations can challenge assumptions, raise awareness of career opportunities and inspire the next generation of employees.
If your organisation would like to connect with future talent, showcase your sector and support young people across Greater Lincolnshire, find out how you can get involved with the Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub.