Eleven Catcote Academy Brierton Sixth Form students have successfully completed their latest work placements at University Hospital North Tees (UHNT) and University Hospital Hartlepool (UHH).
In a structured programme organised by NTH Solutions, the Estates and Facilities Management company owned by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (NTHFT), the Catcote students rotate around the various Facilities teams operating across both hospital sites, learning practical skills to help them transition into the world of work. This includes the Portering, Catering, Domestics, Linen, Mattresses and Decontamination teams, as well as the Ward Hosts who work directly with patients who have been admitted to hospital. All of the students are aged between 16 to 19 years old and have special educational needs.
Alongside their hospital-based duties, the students also took part in a litter pick on the North Tees site, collecting rubbish and tidying the grounds. This was led by their dedicated mentor, Facilities Team Leader, Tim Carter, to teach them about the importance of being a good citizen and contributing to their local community.
Following the success of the first bespoke programme with Catcote Academy in 2024, and due to the number who wanted to stay on to complete another term, NTH Solutions was able to double the work experience places it offered to students between January and April 2025. Six of the students have been based at UHNT for this placement, and five for the first time at UHH.
NTH Solutions provides all estate, facilities and procurement services across NTHFT’s hospital sites at North Tees, Hartlepool and Peterlee, as well as its community-based sites. Natalie Wintersgill, Assistant Director – Operations, commented: “It has been a joy to have such a wonderful group of committed students join us for the last 12 weeks, who are eager to learn about the world of work and the skills needed to support the running of a busy hospital site. The students have really developed in their personal confidence, and have made a very valuable contribution to our operations teams. I know they have certainly brightened people’s days, including some of the patients they have come into contact with whilst serving them meals on our wards. I look forward to our partnership continuing with Catcote Academy over the coming weeks and months as we look to support more students into the workplace.”
The Catcote Academy Sixth Form, based in Hartlepool, focuses on promoting independence, resilience and lifelong learning for its students through the provision of a broad range of personalised educational opportunities, with the ultimate aim to support their transition into full-time employment. Its Careers Lead, Jackie McGarry, added: “This is the second work placement programme we have completed with NTH Solutions, and I’ve been really struck by just how much the students have enjoyed going to work, but equally how they have blossomed and developed new skills that will stay with them for life. All of the employees they have worked with across the North Tees and Hartlepool sites have really taken time to show them what it takes to succeed in a professional workplace, and we are really grateful that the students have had this opportunity to learn from them. Thank you to everyone involved in this!”
Seven students will go on to start their placements across the North Tees and Hartlepool hospital sites at the end of April. Six of those are new students; the seventh is continuing their time at UHH to support their further studies in health and social care. The work placement partnership between NTH Solutions and Catcote Academy began in 2024. Information about Catcote Academy can be found at https://www.catcoteacademy.co.uk.
