At The Christie, supporting our future workforce means creating opportunities for young people to explore the wide variety of careers that contribute to patient care. Work experience placements play an important role in raising awareness of the many departments and roles across the NHS, helping students gain valuable insight into careers they may never have previously considered.
In July 2026, we welcomed George Henderson, a Year 10 student from Weaverham High School, to our Maintenance Team at the Withington and Macclesfield site. During his placement, George worked alongside colleagues across the department, gaining a first-hand understanding of the essential work required to keep a specialist cancer centre operating safely and effectively.
George spent much of his placement with Paul Bann, who commented:
"George was a pleasure to have with us. He was always polite, keen to listen and eager to learn. He asked lots of questions about how things work and why certain tasks are carried out, and was always willing to lend a helping hand. By the end of the placement, he was saying he wanted to stay rather than go back to school because he had enjoyed it so much."
"I learned a lot from Paul and went on jobs around the hospital with the team. I visited plant rooms, learned how the hospital operates behind the scenes and was shown how the Building Management System is used to monitor equipment across the site. From my time at The Christie, I gained valuable skills and learned the importance of keeping the hospital running.
My work experience helped me understand how the hospital works and how important these roles are when something goes wrong. It's definitely the type of work I would like to do when I leave school.
George Henderson, work experience student
George's placement highlights the breadth of opportunities available within the NHS and the often unseen roles that are vital to delivering exceptional patient care. By providing young people with meaningful experiences across a range of departments, The Christie is helping to inspire the next generation, broaden awareness of NHS careers and support the development of a skilled and diverse future workforce.
Referrals and enquiries
All widening participation initiatives are managed by Lydia Botley. For referrals, collaboration opportunities or to speak with the team, please email the-christie.workexperience@nhs.net