A job events company is attempting to ‘plug the gap’ and provide a solution to the NHS and social care staffing crisis in the south of England by staging the UK’s first ever show which is solely dedicated to recruitment in the healthcare sector.
Hosted by pioneering Milton Keynes-based business, Jobshows, Health & Social Care Jobs Live is taking place at the Westfield Shopping Centre in White City, London, on 16-17 June in a bid to help reduce the unprecedented staff shortages in both sectors.
For over a decade, Jobshows has hosted regional recruitment exhibitions, heavily frequented by many public sector employers including NHS Trusts, the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, councils, colleges, universities and even the British Army. However, Simeon Jackson, event organiser at Health & Social Care Jobs Live, says that in response to a growing number of requests from NHS Trusts and social care providers, the new show has been set up to serve health and social care exclusively.
Simeon said: “The NHS is an amazing institution but it’s well documented that it is vastly under resourced with staff vacancies at a five-year high so upon speaking to lots of trusts it was clear that they were crying out for a solution to promote in-house recruitment.
“Health and Social Care Live is our first to be totally dedicated to healthcare and we’ve already had a number of NHS Trusts and care home providers sign up as they are so desperate to recruit staff. We have an 83% rebooking rate at our regional recruitment shows so we’re expecting this new show to be really successful.
“Westfield W12 is considered the UK’s most prestigious shopping destination and has a natural footfall of around 250,000 every Friday and Saturday. By taking the show to the main hub of a busy shopping centre, we take our NHS Trusts into the heart of the people, making it even more accessible for job seekers.
“Rather than having to buy a ticket and get yourself to Excel London or London Olympia, holding the event at Westfield removes all geographical barriers. We will also have 15,000 pre-registered candidates who will be ready for interview with CV or certificates in hand.”
NHS Trusts from London, Berkshire, Essex, Bucks, Coventry and Warwickshire, Surrey and Avon are among the organisational units to have signed up to Health & Social Care Live so far.
Simeon added: “The show will give NHS Trusts and social care providers the chance to stand out offline, meet thousands of jobseekers face-to-face, create a talent pool, network and share ideas with other health organisations and even interview pre-screened candidates immediately and hire them directly.”
