Atlas and Blackpool Victoria Hospital
aim to inspire the next generation
A
tlas is joining Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to show Fylde Coast’s youngsters that a career in the healthcare sector isn’t all about Doctors and Nurses.
Atlas is exhibiting alongside the Trust at The Blackpool Careers Options Event: Our Future, Our Choice, taking place on 30-31 January from 09:00 to 15:00 each day, at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
The event, organised by the Guidance Community Network, aims to ensure that Fylde Coast’s youngsters understand the importance of developing key employability skills, as well as the link between success in school and their future career.
There are over 1,700 attendees expected from schools over the two-day event.
Blackpool Careers Options Event organiser, Julie Whalley, said: “Our Future, Our Choice is designed to provide students with guidance on potential employment sectors and their related careers, as they choose their options for GCSEs.
The event and the exhibitors promote the importance of importance of interpersonal skills and attributes, alongside formal qualification in an ever-competitive job market, to help students to recognise their own potential and abilities, encouraging them to aim high in their future.”
The event offers students a hands-on experience in a wide-range of careers pathways – allowing students to learn at first-hand what they involve and what skills and qualifications are required.
Anthony Monks, Atlas’ Communications Officer, said: “Exhibiting at the Our Future, Our Choice event is a fantastic opportunity to help young people to make informed choices for life after completing their GSCEs.”
Anthony adds: “The team and I relish the chance to offer insight into various careers in the healthcare profession, as well as discussing future apprenticeship opportunities within Atlas to the youngsters in areas, ranging from: medical engineering; mechanical engineering; chartered surveying; decontamination; as well as trades including plumbing, electrics and joinery.
These roles provide essential support to clinical staff such as doctors and nurses and help in delivering the best possible care to service users.”
Michelle Pearson, Workforce Development Coordinator at the Trust, said: “People often think that to work in the NHS you’ve got to train as a nurse or doctor. We are exhibiting alongside Atlas to challenge that perception, by giving the youngsters, their teachers and parents an insight into potential career pathways within the healthcare sector, both clinical and non-clinical.”
Michelle continues: “You may imagine that you need a degree to be a part of it, but in reality, almost half of jobs in the healthcare sector are non-medical, so there’s a wide variety of roles available there are actually loads of non-clinical roles open to school leavers.”
Julie adds: “It is fantastic that both Atlas and Blackpool Victoria Hospital are attending Our Future, Our Choice this year; helping to show young people the diverse career options available within the healthcare sector.”