Mayoral Priority Skills Fund improves access to healthcare careers at North Bristol NHS Trust

The Mayoral Priority Skills Fund (MPSF) provides flexible grant funding to meet current priority skills gaps in the region. These priorities have been identified through robust intelligence gathered showing there are gaps in current provision and there no other current funding available to meet this need.

MPSF has funded North Bristol NHS Trust to deliver Accessing Healthcare Careers programme which provides a unique opportunity to work one on one with targeted communities, designing bespoke interventions that will remove barriers and support candidates into employment. The programme has targeted economically inactive community areas and offered individuals an opportunity to gain work experience and support towards employment.

Dre's reflections

Dre, who worked as a Community Engagement Worker on this project, shares his experiences with us.

A boost in confidence

“I cannot even begin to describe how rewarding this has been for the NBT community team, I enjoy walking around the hospital and seeing my participants in uniform and smiling. Those who are still waiting for opportunities to open up have reported a boost in confidence and a change in mindset which means a lot to us as a team.”

“I am really grateful for the opportunity to work on this project and I hope we can carry on this amazing work. I think for me, my proudest moments are giving our participants a chance to demonstrate their competence during work experience and managers offering roles or encouraging participants to apply.”

Exceeding expectations

“Internal managers can see they don't have to compromise on quality to support our community participants and are now requesting my participants for roles they are recruiting for. With transferable skills such as willingness to learn, our participants have exceeded expectations by demonstrating their worth.”

Before getting involved in the programme, participants reported a number of barriers to getting into employment:

Faced challenges creating a CV and cover letters that effectively communicated skills and experience.
Struggled with interviews and found it difficult to present a clear career narrative.
Lacked knowledge about NHS application processes and how to prepare effectively.
Took a sabbatical after the pandemic due to burnout, which negatively affected job prospects.
Despite applying to hundreds of roles and receiving positive feedback on application materials, secured only one interview—leading to feelings of demoralisation.

Tahereh said: “The mentoring and skills sessions provided by NBT were instrumental in addressing these challenges. They helped me refine my CV, ensuring it effectively highlighted my abilities and experience in administration. Additionally, the sessions improved my interview skills, providing me with the tools and confidence to articulate my goals and qualifications effectively. These insights were tailored to my career aspirations, which made them particularly impactful.”

Paul told us: “I have definitely become more confident in applying for the role. I have found the best strategy to prepare and have gathered a lot of information on the ways to progress in the NHS. I am an ambitious person and want to become a registered nurse, so I have learned how to get there without any diversions along the way.”

Po remarked that: “[The sessions] allowed me to drill interview practice, reframe my strengths into selling points and helped me to get placements within the hospital. It also gave me a support network of professionals who would review my CV and applications, and it helped me to understand the specific requirements for making applications to the NHS, which function differently to many private sector job applications.”

How did the mentoring/session(s) impact your confidence when applying for the apprenticeship/role?

Po was very positive in their feedback: “It is hugely beneficial to have already spent a week shadowing people in the NHS before you apply to a job. It feels like you’re already a part of the team, and are far more likely to be able to reference knowledge and experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for. It contacts and connections, as well as context for everything that happens in the hospital.

Additionally, through the course I did, I was able to meet other people who’d been struggling too. It’s so nice to know you’re not alone, and that others are going through the same thing. We’ve supported each other and celebrated all the victories together, and commiserated when things didn’t work out. That alone has given me confidence, and I wouldn’t have met them if not for this programme.”

Erika said: “The group activities in the course were a good occasion to test my confidence and to apply the tips given by the tutor. The preparation before the interview was also very productive to increase my trust. The work experience on the ward made me more confident about the duties I will be undertaking as a Healthcare Support Worker.”

Tahereh mentioned: “The mentoring sessions significantly boosted my confidence. By addressing my areas of concern—such as interview techniques and self-presentation—I felt more prepared and assured when applying for roles. The support I received helped me believe in my ability to succeed and reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career in healthcare administration.”

Paul reported: “I attended the apprenticeship meeting and found Dominique Duma's speech to be very inspiring. Sessions with Dre and Julie helped me to realize what to expect from the interview and the job. As I became more prepared, my confidence increased significantly."

What has been the outcome of the support you received?

Erika said: “I managed to apply for job that had restricted access, giving me the change to get the job offered. I felt more confident when applying and during the interview.”

Tahereh reported: “Thanks to the support from NBT, I gained invaluable work experience with the Urology team and administrative roles, which solidified my career aspirations. This experience, coupled with the mentoring, allowed me to secure a position where I can combine my administrative expertise with my passion for healthcare. I am now working in a role within the NHS that aligns with my goals and allows me to make a positive impact on people’s lives.”

Paul told us: “I have received a job offer as an apprentice senior healthcare support worker with the National Health Service. I am grateful for this opportunity and I am committed to being a valuable asset to the North Bristol NHS Trust, upholding its values, and supporting the organisation and my team. I am highly motivated to work towards my goal of becoming a registered nurse.”

Po said: “Thanks to the support I’ve received from the community team, I have completed and NVQ1 qualification with them, I’ve received a placement shadowing the materials management department, I've had two interviews now, and just recently I finally received an offer to work for the NHS! I’ll be starting as a Medical Secretary in the Neurology department at the end of this month.”

What advice would you give to anyone considering engaging with the mentoring/support sessions, when job searching?

Erika said: “I have been recommending these mentoring/support sessions to a couple of people looking to apply for jobs. I think Dre and Julie have been incredibly supportive and helped me find a job within a month from our first meeting. Before then I spent a few months applying for jobs unsuccessfully.”

Paul told us: “I am a refugee from Ukraine, so I had to start over when I moved to the UK. My qualifications from Ukraine were not recognized here, so I had to take and pass functional skills level 2 in English and Maths, obtain a Diploma level 2 in health care, and more before I applied for a position at the North Bristol NHS Trust, where I received an offer. Throughout my journey, I received a lot of mentoring and support from the council and Southmead, and I am very grateful to them. My advice to others is to never give up and to seek all the help you can get along the way to the job that you really want to do.”

Tahereh told us: “I would strongly encourage anyone job searching to engage with mentoring or support sessions. These sessions provide personalized guidance that can address specific challenges like interview preparation or CV writing. They also offer opportunities to gain relevant work experience and improve self-confidence. Most importantly, they can help clarify your career goals and provide a pathway to achieving them.”

Po echoed this: “I can’t recommend it enough, it’s extremely hard to find work sometimes, and it’s so nice to feel like you’re not alone. Just knowing that there are people who care and want you to succeed helps so much. They are professionals who are there to guide you through the challenging processes of applications and interviews. You can get placements to try roles you’re curious about just to learn more about them, and to get experience within the NHS. All of those things look great on your CV too! Good luck, and I hope you find what you’re looking for!”