An event at the Gallery Restaurant at Forth Valley College’s Stirling Campus, was the perfect setting to celebrate the success of the Career Ambassador Project.

Funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund helped the Forth Valley University College NHS Partnership launch the project which aims to make a real difference to the careers of students from a wide range of backgrounds, who may have had a disruption to their education, work experience and career journey so far.

Those who attended the celebration on 17 March 2025 included mentees, mentors, Forth Valley College and NHS Forth Valley staff who all went above and beyond to make the initiative such a success. Sarah Higgins, Forth Valley College’s Vice Principal Learning and Student Experience, spoke enthusiastically about the success of the project and three student mentees; Emily Ford, Erin Hendry and Caitlin Harrison also shared their inspirational experiences of how the initiative had benefitted them.

The Project matched a selected Forth Valley College student with a designated NHS Forth Valley Volunteer Ambassador from the local workforce to provide enthusiastic and positive role models, encouraging their mentee to recognise the wide range of employment opportunities which exist across the local health service.

The funding enabled the project to run until March 2025 and since the project started, 44 students have been matched up with an Ambassador from a range of NHS Forth Valley departments areas such as Business, Administration, IT, Health Improvement, Planning, Human Resources, Estates and Catering.

The pairs met up at least four times in one-to-one sessions, workshops and site visits. Advice and guidance was also offered by the Ambassadors and many pairs developed a positive connection, allowing them to work together to focus on potential and transferable skills as well as skills development.

Student, Emily Ford, said: “I really enjoyed this experience and it was very beneficial for me, I got to meet a range of people from the NHS. I also got the opportunity to attend a First Aid for mental health course through the college. I’m very thankful that I got to take part in the project and enhance my skills for the future.”

Erin Hendry, another local student who took part in the project, said: “The experience has overall made me see that I can achieve what I want to and made the idea of me becoming a professional seem less foreign. I’ve had four universities offering me interviews and secured offers from two! – I think that doing this project has been responsible for a lot of that success. I’ve enjoyed the process a lot, found it hugely useful and I’m really grateful to my mentor and the organisers for giving me the opportunity.”

Caitlin Harrison, said “I really enjoyed the experience and learnt so much, I’m so thankful to have been a part of it.”

Sarah Higgins, Forth Valley College’s Vice Principal Learning and Student Experience, said: “This initiative represents the power of collaboration between NHS Forth Valley and the college to provide career and mentoring support, workplace opportunities and promote positive destinations for our students.

“This project would not have been possible without the generous funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Stirling Council. This vital support has allowed us to establish a truly transformative programme that opens doors and helps young individuals carve meaningful career pathways.

“We extend our gratitude to our project leads, Alison Harris, Career Ambassador Coordinator from Forth Valley College, and Noelle MacKay, Employability Manager from NHS Forth Valley. Their dedication, hard work, and vision have been the driving force behind this initiative, ensuring its success at every stage.

“From the official launch of the mentoring scheme in November 2023, this project has come a long way. The recruitment of students and the training of our NHS Career Ambassadors has been a testament to the commitment and enthusiasm of everyone involved. Our NHS Ambassadors invested their own time and committed to completing training and development to develop their mentoring skills. Their dedication to the success of this role has been truly inspiring.

“As we celebrate the success of the project, let us not only reflect on what we have accomplished, but also look ahead to the future. This project, the relationships that it has developed and the impact that it has had, has set a foundation for further partnership and collaboration.”

Alison Harris, Forth Valley Colleges Career Ambassador Co-ordinator, said: “Coordinating the Project has been a genuinely inspiring experience. Seeing staff from across the NHS come together to share their stories and career journeys with our students has shown me just how powerful real-life role models and mentors can be. I truly believe the project helps break down barriers and shows people from all backgrounds that a fulfilling career in the NHS and beyond is within reach. It’s about sparking ambition, building confidence, and helping shape the future of our workforce.”

Laura Geoghegan, Forth Valley College’s Widening Participation Manager, said: “This Career Ambassador Project has proven to be a great success, providing students with mentorship that has boosted their confidence, enhanced their skills and offered invaluable guidance, paving the way for exciting career opportunities. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and hard work of Alison Harris, Career Ambassador Coordinator whose commitment has truly made a difference.”