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HRH The Duke of Cambridge met with staff from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to hear more about the pilot of the ‘Step into Health’ military employment programme prior to the national public launch of the programme.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of five NHS Trust across the country to have been involved in piloting the programme, which was set up in 2014 by the NHS in conjunction with The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Walking With The Wounded, and aims to give ex-servicemen and women the opportunities to bring their talents and skills to the NHS.

The meeting with HRH The Duke of Cambridge took place at the Royal Society of Medicine in London on Thursday 18 January 2018. Attending were Mark Gwilliam, Director of Human Resources at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Tim Harris MBE, a former Lieutenant Colonel who now works at the Trust in the Operating Services, Critical Care and Anaesthesia Directorate after gaining a work placement through the pilot programme.

The Sheffield pilot has attracted interest from a large number of military veterans, with six dedicated career information days for members of the armed forces community taking place since the pilot was launched, and around 30 work experience placements being supported in a breadth of roles, including in nursing, radiography, podiatry, strategy and operations, and clinical support workers. A partnership agreement has also been made with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to hold joint career information days, with the first event due to take place today (Monday 29 January 2018).

Mark Gwilliam, Director of Human Resources, said: “We are delighted to be renewing our commitment to the Step into Health programme. Armed forces personnel have a wealth of skills and experience which is hugely valuable to the NHS. As one of the largest NHS Trusts we are passionate about creating opportunities for each individual to make the most of their potential, and we are honoured to be sharing our experience of the programme with HRH The Duke of Cambridge today.”

Tim Harris MBE, who completed 19 years of service in the Army before leaving in July 2016, and was appointed Deputy Operations Director within its Operating Services, Critical Care and Anaesthesia Directorate after learning about the Trust through a career information day, said: “Step Into Health is an incredible initiative which has given me a fantastic opportunity on leaving HM Forces. ‎I am learning every day and loving the job. The PROUD values of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals are very closely aligned to those of the British Army and I often find myself admiring the staff here who have a very familiar ethos of service which reminds me in many ways of the military culture.”

The Step into Health programme is open to all service leavers and veterans and their spouse or partner. To find out more visit, http://militarystepintohealth.nhs.uk/

ENDS

Photo: HRH The Duke of Cambridge with ambassadors for the Step into Health programme including Mark Gwilliam, Director of Human Resources at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals (front row, third from the left)