New Health and Life Sciences Hub to boost careers and healthcare services in North-East London

A new health and life sciences hub at Waltham Forest College is set to create significant career opportunities, support the local community, and strengthen healthcare services in North-East London. This innovative initiative is part of the Barts Health Futures programme and will help address NHS skills shortages while focusing on improving care for older people. 

The Hub, which has received funding and support from the Mayor of London, will provide hands-on experience for students through T-level qualifications, specialised training, and placements at Whipps Cross Hospital. State-of-the-art facilities, including a hospital ward simulation space and a training cadaver, will ensure students are fully prepared for real-world healthcare roles. Additionally, Barts Life Sciences will support the Hub by offering advice on innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities that benefit the NHS. 

Amanjit Jhund, CEO of Whipps Cross Hospital: “The opening of the new Health and Life Sciences Skills and Training Hub is a fantastic opportunity for students and NHS staff to grow their careers while ensuring we develop the workforce where it’s needed most.” 

The hub is expected to train hundreds of NHS staff and students each year, helping the NHS build a talent pipeline in areas facing critical skills shortages and the partnership is a crucial step in fulfilling the objectives outlined in the newly published London Growth Plan, which aims to generate thousands of jobs in the growing life sciences sector of North-East London. 

Janet Gardner, Principal and CEO, Waltham Forest College: “This partnership is a great example of Anchor Institutions working together to support the skills needed to help local communities into great jobs and progress into aspirational careers within the NHS.  The Hub will also create innovative opportunities for employment in the Life Sciences sector, supporting economic growth for our economy.” 

Sven Bunn, Life Sciences Programme Director, Barts Life Sciences, said: “There are exciting career opportunities for the local community on the horizon as the development of our new Life Sciences Cluster in North-East London will create thousands of jobs in health and life sciences.” 

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About Waltham Forest College
Waltham Forest College has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted following its most recent inspection and has distinguished itself as one of only a small number of General Further Education Colleges across the country to achieve the prestigious ‘Outstanding’ rating. It is also ranked in the top 3% of GFE colleges in the country for student achievements. Waltham Forest College is an aspirational place to learn with highly skilled, supportive staff, industry standard specialist facilities and partnership working with employers. The College holds specialist academy status for healthcare, construction, green technologies and hospitality and is one of only 12 leading institutions selected as a WorldSkills UK’s Training Centre of Excellence. This provides an exciting opportunity for students to further develop world-class skills, embedding excellence and developing the higher-level technical skills that employers need. 

About Barts Life Sciences
Barts Life Sciences is a powerful partnership between Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary, University of London. The partnership is driven by a shared goal to rapidly translate research into real-world healthcare solutions, improving lives for the local communities in North-East London and beyond.  By bringing together clinicians, researchers, and industry, Barts Life Sciences drives breakthroughs that directly address health challenges, improves outcomes, and reduces health inequalities. In collaboration with local FE colleges, Barts Life Sciences supports three Barts Health Futures Hub, two of which have already been launched (Waltham Forest College and Newham College).

About Barts Health
Barts Health NHS Trust serves a population of over 2.6 million people, in an area characterised by significant diversity and health inequalities. It is one of the largest Trusts in England, employs over 20,000 people and accounts for 1.5% of hospital activity. Barts Health provides district general hospital services to the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, City of London and Newham, and also specialist tertiary services to a wider area, including some on a national basis. It runs the largest cardiovascular centre in the United Kingdom, the second largest cancer centre in London, and leading stroke and renal units. In addition to its five hospitals, the Trust also runs a number of other facilities, including two birthing centres, dental and primary care services.