At North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), recruitment and retention go beyond simply filling vacancies. We are committed to creating meaningful careers, nurturing talent and ensuring that everyone who joins us has the opportunity to succeed. We are proud of our Commitment to Our Community programme, which is a key part of this approach, designed to remove barriers, open doors and build a workforce that truly reflects the communities we serve.
Providing the right support at the right time can make a significant difference in helping people into employment. Tyron D'Mello, for example, was able to access a £150 discount on a bicycle, making his daily commute more manageable and easing his transition into a new role. Small, practical solutions like this, combined with structured employability support, help individuals step into NHS careers with confidence. To date, we have delivered 58 employability sessions, covering job application and interview preparation, introductions to business administration and healthcare, and practical support to help people move into work.
Work experience has also been redesigned to be more inclusive and accessible, particularly for those changing careers or returning to work after a break. These placements go beyond a brief introduction to healthcare; they are structured to develop skills, build confidence and create real career pathways. Our approval for direct hiring from work experience has already resulted in six hires, with 17 NBT job offers made, including five directly following work experience placements. In total, we have delivered 39 work experience placements, strengthening our recruitment pipeline and highlighting the quality of our community candidates to hiring managers.
Engaging with our local communities is key to this approach. By actively participating in job fairs and employment support events, we are connecting with people who may never have considered a career in healthcare and showing them the many different opportunities available within the NHS. These efforts go far beyond clinical roles; we actively promote careers in administration, facilities, management, IT and more, ensuring people from all walks of life see the NHS as an inclusive and supportive employer.
The true impact of the Commitment to Our Community programme is best seen in the experiences of those who have joined us. Paul Bush, a Ukrainian refugee, successfully transitioned into a healthcare role with our support, demonstrating the life-changing impact of meaningful employment opportunities.
To date, the programme has provided mentoring and skills support to over 130 individuals and helped almost 30 people secure NHS roles. Our Estates and Facilities Day attracted 12 attendees, leading to three individuals securing employment and our collaboration with the clinical skills team has provided three hands-on practical sessions.
At NBT, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone can develop, grow and thrive. By thinking differently and providing the right support, we are shaping a workforce that benefits individuals, our organisation and the communities we serve.
For more details on Commitment to Our Community, including personal stories, visit the NBT website: https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/
