Public sector opportunities in North Devon - David Worden

Recently I wrote about the opportunities for highly skilled and well paid careers working for the private sector in North Devon. I would also like to highlight the opportunities that exist to build careers in the public sector in the area.

What is often overlooked is the fact that the biggest employer in our area by far is the North Devon District Hospital, now part of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

The trust provides services across North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in Exeter and employs around 15,000 people. The trust has strong links with Exeter University and is heavily involved in high quality research and development.

Even outside of the medical staff, it provides a fantastic range of roles and employment opportunities for those interested in a career in the health sector.

North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) is one of 40 hospitals included in the New Hospital Programme (NHP) that was confirmed as a priority for investment in 2020.

The aim through the NHP is to provide better care for patients, an improved working environment for staff and to help the NHS reach its net zero carbon initiation, and the trust is working closely with the central NHP team on the delivery plans for the hospital.

In my own area of South Molton we have a community hospital, with one inpatient ward, Hugh Squier Ward. Many different out-patient clinics are also held there, including cardiology, neurology, gynaecology, rheumatology, ophthalmology, general surgery, general medicine, urology and various other services.

In addition there are the ambulance services and paramedics and vacancies for carers for patients in their own homes or care homes.

As well as the NHS, I am going to unashamedly mention my own authority, North Devon Council. It employs around 420 staff in a whole range of roles and professions.

Very visible are our waste and recycling staff and it is no secret that we, like many employers, are short of HGV drivers. What many people don’t realise is that you can be employed by the council and pursue a career in professions such as the law, accountancy, planning, communications, environmental health and housing and many others.

The council is a first rate employer that supports and develops its staff with many of the most senior staff having started as young people as part of the apprenticeship and trainee schemes that it operates.

People that work for public bodies such as these have a very strong public service ethos and roles within both organisations can be extremely fulfilling.

None of these organisations and employers, whether public or private, would find it easy to operate in this area without a good supply of the right employees.

Making sure that young people are ready and capable of taking up positions in the workplace is an extremely important part of the jigsaw and luckily we are blessed with some exceptional state secondary schools and private schools that provide a first class educational foundation for our youngsters.

One of my other roles is that of a director of Chulmleigh Academy Trust and results day is always high on my agenda. We are indeed fortunate in North Devon in having many dedicated staff who go far beyond their designated duties in order to help our young people develop their skills and achieve good academic qualifications.

Despite the fact that we suffer from a lack of fair funding for our schools compared to many parts of the country the effort put in at our schools is really commendable. As a former teacher myself and still as a chief examiner for GCSE for AQA I am conscious of the importance of a good education for our young people as it opens up so many opportunities.