Publish date: 12 February 2026
Students explore vital NHS support careers at Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management
Year 9 students from John Spence Community High School have gained hands-on experience of NHS support and non-clinical careers during a special workplace visit to Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM).
The interactive event was delivered through a partnership between Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s widening participation team, NHFM, John Spence Community High School and the North East Combined Authority (North East CA).
The visit aimed to showcase the wide range of career opportunities available beyond clinical roles and to highlight apprenticeships and technical routes into the NHS.
Students took part in practical activities across several departments, rotating between interactive stations that included portering, security and machinist tasks, giving them real insight into the skills and teamwork involved in keeping NHS services running every day.
The event was coordinated by the trust’s widening participation team, working collaboratively with NHFM colleagues and the school’s careers leader, Kate Winder.
Damon Kent, managing director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management said: “Too often when people think about NHS careers, they only think about doctors and nurses. The reality is that thousands of dedicated colleagues work behind the scenes to make sure hospitals function safely and efficiently.
“Showcasing non-clinical careers is hugely important, not only to help young people understand the breadth of opportunities available to them, but also to help us build the skilled and diverse workforce the NHS needs for the future.”
Kate added:
“What made the visit so effective was that everything was delivered by the staff themselves, giving our young people an authentic feel for the environment and the wide variety of roles available.
“Our pupils loved being able to get hands-on, try new tasks and see first-hand how such an important organisation operates. Experiences like this help them understand possibilities they may never have considered before. It was an inspiring visit and one we very much hope to build on in the future.”
The event was coordinated by the trust’s widening participation team, led by Rochelle Gonsalves who is also the enterprise advisor for John Spence school, working collaboratively with NHFM colleagues and the school’s careers leader. The Enterprise Adviser Network connects schools with local employers to help shape meaningful careers education.
The initiative has been further strengthened through the Boosting Skills Pathways project, funded by the Department for Education, via The Careers and Enterprise Company and delivered locally by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust on behalf of the North East Combined Authority. The programme aims to improve young people’s access to technical and vocational routes, expand apprenticeship and T-Level opportunities, and increase sector-led careers outreach across the region.
Aligned to the Mayor’s New Deal for North East Workers Strategy, the project focuses on raising awareness of the diverse range of NHS career pathways, particularly non-clinical roles, while helping to build stronger, more inclusive recruitment pipelines for the future workforce across Northumberland and North Tyneside.
Adrian Dougherty, Assistant Director – Inclusive Futures at the North East Combined Authority said:
“This visit was designed to raise awareness of the many exciting, non‑clinical NHS careers that young people often don’t see. Having these facilities so close to home helps to connect the classroom to the world of work, and the North East Combined Authority is committed to supporting opportunities that connect education with local industry.”
Media contact
Christopher Magee, christopher.magee@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk