From the nurses and midwives in our hospitals, the social workers, paramedics, physiotherapists and occupational therapists in our communities, to the teachers and early years’ workers in our schools and nurseries, the University of Worcester trains the professionals who are the backbone of our society.

Never more has the education of such students been so important as the nation looks to its future following a most devastating year, and an on-going crisis.

Throughout this on-going difficult period, the University has sought out ways to provide help and support, whether by sending all of its health equipment to the local hospital at the start of the national lockdown, through to rallying volunteers to join the national effort. Around 450 University of Worcester students put themselves forward to work on the frontline at the height of the pandemic, and students clocked up more than 850 hours of additional volunteering in their communities.

Going forwards the University has committed to playing its part in the national recovery, including through the vital education of those professionals who are much needed in our communities, and by offering re-skilling opportunities for the many hundreds of thousands of people abruptly displaced from their industries by the pandemic.

The University of Worcester is among the most successful universities in the UK in combining inclusion with quality education. More than 97% of the University’s students come from state schools and the University is in the top 10 nationally for long-term graduate employment.

This year, the University has welcomed more students to study than last year, including over 1,000 budding health professionals after the University was awarded the largest allocation of additional healthcare places in the country.

The 473 extra places awarded recognised the University’s outstanding reputation in delivering health education and will go some way to ending the crippling shortages of skilled health workers across the country, while also giving people from more deprived parts of Worcester, such as Dines Green, Tolladine and Warndon, who have been left behind for too long, the opportunity to train as a paramedic or a nurse.

The University has also introduced a number of new health and science degrees, including Foundation Years in Healthcare and Biological Sciences, to help people take their first steps into higher education study.

The University’s health students, along with those studying on a range of other courses, including in Teaching, Business, Science, Sport and the Arts, make a huge contribution to the city and wider region through their training and their volunteering, but also through their much-needed support for local businesses.

The University is also working hard to help the city and region recover economically, by accelerating the construction work at its emerging Severn Campus for Health, Wellbeing and Inclusive Sport so that vital jobs in construction can be sustained now, while worthwhile jobs in health, inclusive sport, student support, community wellbeing, maintenance and more can be sustained in Worcester for the long-term.

These additional facilities will build on the University’s successful development of The Hive, in partnership with Worcestershire County Council, and the University of Worcester Arena. The Hive was one of the first public facilities to re-open to the community in early July, following the national lockdown.

As a community-engaged university, Worcester is dedicated to working together with its partners and people to help the City, region and nation prosper for the future.

If you are thinking about a new career and are interested in finding out more about the range of courses on offer at the University of Worcester, including a range of postgraduate opportunities, visit the website www.worcester.ac.uk

The University of Worcester is supporting the Worcester News’ Love Local Business campaign to encourage people to spend their money locally this Christmas.

Headline sponsors are Visit Worcester, Worcester City Council and Worcester BID. Other supporting partners include Crowngate Shopping Centre. To get involved, contact Dale Godliman on 01905 742372 or dale.godliman@localiq.co.uk.