Free Hartlepool careers evening opens doors to NHS roles

A free careers evening at the University Hospital of Hartlepool will give local people a direct look at clinical, scientific and behind-the-scenes NHS work on Tuesday 27 October.

One evening, a wide range of routes

The event runs from 5pm to 7.30pm at the hospital’s Health and Social Care Academy. It is open to anyone interested in NHS careers, whether they are choosing a first job, considering a change of direction or planning their next step. There is no need to book. The trust’s original 19 October news release gave a 7.50pm finish, but its current event page and a 21 October update both say 7.30pm; this article follows the newer information.

Healthcare professionals, education partners and recruitment specialists from University Hospitals Tees will be available to discuss current vacancies, training and different entry routes. That matters because the NHS depends on many kinds of work, from laboratories and therapy teams to portering, domestic services and transport. The evening is designed to let visitors ask practical questions of people doing those jobs, rather than relying only on job descriptions.

Careers that did not follow a straight line

Among the stallholders is Tyla Colf, a 30-year-old trainee clinical scientist in haematology and transfusion. Her work helps diagnose blood disorders and supports transfusion services. After a health condition stopped her completing A Levels, she entered higher education through a biomedical science foundation year at Teesside University, later completed a master’s degree and built laboratory experience around the UK.

Her route offers a useful example for people whose education has been interrupted or who assume there is only one way into healthcare science. Visitors can ask about foundation study, postgraduate training and the day-to-day role of laboratory teams. Colf said the field’s constant development suits her love of learning.

Bradley Stokes will represent the many NHS careers that are not clinical. He joined the health service in 2010 as a domestic assistant at The James Cook University Hospital and is now facilities service lead for NTH Solutions. He oversees portering, domestic and transport services across two hospital sites. His progression shows how an entry-level support role can lead to responsibility for services that keep hospitals working for patients, visitors and staff.

From university to critical care

Senior physiotherapists Sophie Andelin, 24, and Georgia Walker, 25, will also be there. They studied together at Teesside University and now work in critical care at the University Hospital of North Tees, helping patients rebuild strength and independence after life-threatening illness or major surgery.

Neither originally expected to become a physiotherapist. Andelin discovered the profession at a university open day, while Walker first encountered it through social media. Their accounts may be especially useful to young people who know they want to help patients but have not yet identified the right profession. They can also explain what learning and teamwork look like in a busy critical-care setting.

What visitors need to know

The careers evening is on Tuesday 27 October 2026, from 5pm until 7.30pm, at the Health and Social Care Academy, University Hospital of Hartlepool. Entry is free and no booking is required. The organisers have not published a fixed programme, so visitors should treat it as an informal opportunity to meet stallholders, compare routes and ask about training or vacancies rather than a recruitment appointment.