Careers Info

The health sector is the largest employer in the UK. We work with many partners across the UK and we’re always looking for new people to come into the health sector workforce.

The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight testers in opticians to researchers in medical laboratories. The range of job and career opportunities is vast, from doctors and nurses to engineers and gardeners. It has been said that every job you can do in the UK can be found in the health sector apart from an aeroplane pilot.

Skills for Health represents the health sector. This is made up of three sub sectors:

• National Health Service (NHS)
• Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
• Voluntary Healthcare Sector

Across the UK it is estimated that the sector employs almost 2.1 million people with over 300 job opportunities!

We’ve developed a range of activities together with our network of local and regional partners  which include organisations such as Connexions and Aim Higher. We also work closely with a number of local employers, careers advice organisations and unions.

Where can I get careers information and advice on the health sector?

Skills for Health provides information on:

• careers in health [1] – a comprehensive careers resource specifically for the health sector signposting people to further information
• funding guides for employers and individuals
• information on working in the independent healthcare sector
• a matrix toolkit to support organisations wanting to develop a quality service
• apprenticeships
• the Diploma in Society, Health and Development
• the Career Framework
  
   

NHS Careers provides information on:

• Step into the NHS [2] – information and a chance to register your interest in the health sector aimed at 14 to 19 year olds
• NHS Careers [3] – information on opportunities in healthcare
• What can I do with my degree [4] – shows the wide range of opportunities in the NHS even if you do not have a clinical based qualification
• Work experience in the NHS [5] – NHS careers provides information for students and schools as well as for employers
• Lesson resources [6] – linked to the Step into the NHS site with lesson plans, information on how the NHS works and more
   

NHS Careers and Skills for Health work in partnership with the Careers Advice service to provide the following:

• Health Learning and Skills Advice [7] Line on 08000 150 850 – a free and confidential advice line, staffed by highly trained experts, able to provide advice and guidance on the health sector’s wide range of jobs, qualifications, entry points
   

You can also get information from:

• Connexions Direct [8], which is a national multi-agency service specifically for young people aged between 13-19
• Jobs4U [9] which provides information articles on the range of careers in health, including the     complementary sector
• Next step [10] – if you are over 20 and want to discuss your options in learning or careers
• Jobcentre Plus [11] – for a range of vacancies in the health sector
• NHS jobs [12] – to search for that job in the NHS
   

What do we do?

We work with our regional partners to identify and develop Careers information and advice in our area.  This will vary depending on your area.  If you are interested in finding out more, use our interactive map [13] to select your region and get in touch.