University and hospital partnership to strengthen future NHS workforce
The University of Derby and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have strengthened their partnership to help develop future healthcare professionals and support NHS workforce growth across Derbyshire.
The organisations have signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement, building on their long-standing relationship to identify skills gaps, create new educational pathways and support innovation across clinical and non-clinical roles.
Students and graduates will benefit from more opportunities to gain experience through placements, projects and employer-led learning. Existing NHS staff will also have access to apprenticeships, short courses and professional development opportunities.
The agreement will also support the NHS’s increasing use of digital technologies, helping to ensure current and future healthcare professionals have the skills needed to work in an evolving healthcare environment.
The partnership supports a shared ambition to strengthen Derbyshire’s future medical workforce while building on the University of Derby’s investment in healthcare education, including its specialist clinical simulation facilities at the St Helena Campus in Chesterfield.
Supporting skills and careers in healthcare
Alongside workforce development, the organisations will work together on curriculum design to ensure students gain experience of current healthcare practice and develop the skills needed for future careers.
The agreement also complements the University’s Recognising Potential programme, led by Dr Runa Saha, Founding Dean of Medicine. Working with young people aged eight to 18 across Derbyshire, the initiative inspires interest in healthcare careers and helps create a sustainable pipeline of future NHS professionals.
The partnership will also strengthen engagement with the University of Derby’s Work Health Hub, a specialist consultancy that supports organisations to improve workplace wellbeing and workforce performance.
Matt Snowden, Associate Provost – Industry Engagement at the University of Derby, said:
“This agreement represents a significant step forward in our relationship with Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
“By combining our expertise and shared ambitions to secure a talent pipeline fit for the future, we can create new meaningful opportunities for students, support workforce development and help address some of the key challenges facing healthcare services today.
“As an industry-engaged university, we are committed to working alongside partners such as Chesterfield Royal Hospital to deliver positive outcomes for our students and communities across Derbyshire and beyond.”
The agreement further strengthens the University’s approach to working with industry, creating opportunities for students while contributing to regional economic growth and sustainable development.
Jackie Smith, Chair of Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“This is an important and historic moment for both Chesterfield Royal Hospital and the University of Derby. We already share so much: A commitment to our communities, a belief in the potential of our people and a determination to create better opportunities for the future.
“Signing this agreement gives us the chance to build on our already positive relationship with real energy and ambition. I am especially pleased about what this will mean for our colleagues, learners and patients, and I am looking forward to seeing the ideas, partnerships and opportunities that will grow from it.”
The agreement comes as the University of Derby continues to expand its education offer in Chesterfield, including a range of career-focused degree programmes designed to equip students with the high-demand skills needed across the UK.
To discover more about developing skills within your workforce, visit: www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/business-support/skills
The University of Derby and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are among more than 200 Chesterfield organisations that are proud to support the local economy, working closely with Destination Chesterfield to showcase Chesterfield and North Derbyshire as a destination to live, work, visit and invest.
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