George

I had a great time at College. It was a big step up from school and very much down to you to get things done, so it was a good stepping-stone to being an adult and working life. Studying for three BTECs meant using my free time well to keep on top of my coursework load. Managing my time effectively continues to be pivotal in my current job.

When I left College and was looking for work, it was harder than I thought. While College was very helpful and supportive whichever route you wanted to take, there’s only so much preparation for interviews that you can do – you just have to get out there and try your best.

Nuffield Health was a name I knew, and I applied for a role in their Physiotherapy Service bookings team. I was quite quickly promoted to Supervisor and spent about 18 months learning about the company and the services they provide. Later I successfully applied for a Resource Analyst role in the Contact Centre across the whole company. This involved looking after the day-to-day workforce planning for all of Nuffield Health’s divisions within the Contact Centre, including Health Assessments, Hospitals and Physio.

Since November 2021, I’ve been back working within the Physiotherapy Service as their Fusion Network Lead, which I thoroughly enjoy. Each day is different, and I’m responsible for expanding coverage of our physio services across the UK to meet the needs of our clients. It’s a perfect mix of operations management, including carrying out on-site audits, managing relationships between Nuffield Health and the clinic, and ensuring clinics are following their agreed service level agreement. I’m trusted to get on with my work and organise myself and my time.

Nuffield Health was a great company to join after College, and I was keen to hit the ground running and learn as much as I could. I was surprised at how welcoming and kind everyone was, which is one of the reasons I’m still here – the people are what make the charity so great to work for. I’m proud of the progression I’ve made and the knowledge I’ve gained over the past four years, and I feel I’m in good stead for the future.

My advice to anyone going straight into work when they leave College is to be patient, find something that interests you and to not be downhearted if you get rejected – make use of each experience to improve yourself for the next time.

George Rest

Reigate College: 2016-2018

Currently: Fusion Network Lead, Nuffield Health

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