Nottingham Trent University has announced it will continue its expansion into the county with a new training facility for aspiring healthcare workers in Mansfield.
The new facility at Vision West Nottinghamshire College will aim to "significantly improve the education and training available to local people and employers" around the Mansfield and Ashfield area.
D2N2 - the local enterprise partnership between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire - has contributed £580,000 for the facility from its Local Growth Fund and hope the new facility will help address "recruitment challenges within front line nursing."
The training of healthcare workers marks another collaboration between Vision West Nottinghamshire College and Nottingham Trent University (NTU) after a partnership was agreed in October, 2019.
Dr Anne Felton, head of health and allied professions at NTU, said: “We are delighted with the opportunity to bring back the education of health professionals to the local region.
"The facility provides a huge opportunity for us to create pathways into the health professions for local communities and address many of the barriers, such as travel to placements, experienced by students that can inhibit successful completion of a healthcare course. “
“The D2N2 investment will enable us to offer outstanding facilities for healthcare students, including using the latest technology to create realism in clinical skills teaching.
"Providing healthcare courses in the area will enable us to work with our NHS partners to address recruitment challenges and make a positive contribution to the future of the healthcare professions.”
The facility will run a higher education scheme known as the 'NTU Nursing and Allied Health Provision scheme'.
Training at the £1.5 million facility will be designed and delivered in partnership with local healthcare providers including the Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (SFHFT), the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust (NHT), Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust (NUH), and Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC).
The Local Growth Fund enables D2N2 to invest in projects that benefit the local area and economy.
D2N2 Interim Chair David Williams said: “The need for high-quality healthcare professionals has never been more acute than during the current pandemic, and D2N2 is delighted to be able to provide the financial backing for this facility which will improve the lives of local residents.”
“When this facility opens, learners who might never have considered Higher or Further Education, will have the opportunity to access higher paid jobs, increasing aspiration and social mobility for the entire community.”
