The Talent Foundry, an education charity, launched its first Bridge to Nursing programme in Teesside earlier this month. The programme brings together young people, nurse mentors and healthcare leaders in the Tees Valley area to help tackle health inequalities and improve social mobility across the area through a supported programme of workshops and mentoring for those interested in a career in nursing.

Teesside faces some of the poorest health outcomes in the UK, with lower life expectancy and higher levels of long-term illness linked to socio-economic deprivation.

The first workshop took place on 4 February, welcoming students aged 16-18 from schools and colleges in the area. Students took part in interactive sessions designed to build confidence, raise awareness of nursing careers, and provide practical insight into routes into healthcare degrees, apprenticeships and employment.

The workshops, supported by 15 nurse mentors from a range of organisations and clinical specialisms, offer students the opportunity to learn directly from Professional working across the health and care system.

Through a series of workshops, mentoring and hands-on experience, Bridge to Nursing will support 30 students through an intensive pre-degree programme and reach a further 475 students through wider school-based awareness sessions. The programme aims to build a diverse local talent pipeline into nursing careers and strengthen the future health and care workforce.

The Bridge to Nursing programme is delivered by the Talent Foundry in partnership with NHS England North East and Yorkshire, Teesside University, local NHS partners and Tees Valley Combined Authority. The programme, funded through Legal & General’s Health Equity Fund, launched in partnership with Sir Michael Marmot and the UCL Institute of Health Equity. The Fund aims to support place-based initiatives tackling the driving forces behind the wide range of wider determinants of health inequality in the UK.

The programme will run from February 2026 to November 2026 and will cumulate in supporting students with their applications and interviews for a place on a nursing degree.

Cate Smith, Director of Programmes and Partnerships at The Talent Foundry, said:

“Bridge to Nursing is about tackling entrenched health inequities in Teesside and giving young people the opportunity to shape their own futures and their communities’ health. By opening pathways into nursing for talented students who might otherwise be excluded, we will help them fulfil their potential and strengthen the NHS workforce where it is most needed. Bringing students and nursing mentors together at the start of this programme helps ignite ambition and unlock potential, showing young people that nursing is an achievable career.”

David Purdue, Chief Nurse for NHS England North East and Yorkshire, said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with TTF on this fantastic programme. As a health and care system, we have a social responsibility to grow our future nursing workforce to be reflective of the communities they serve, whilst reducing inequalities and promote social mobility through employment and educational opportunities. Education and employment opportunities have long been linked to better health outcomes.

“Giving young people opportunities to pursue a career in nursing will also benefit local populations as once qualified nurses can influence health outcomes in their communities.”

‘’I would also like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to our local healthcare providers Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust, South Tees NHS Foundation Trust, North Tees NHS Foundation Trust , Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, North East Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust and Spectrum CIC for their support with the fantastic nurse mentors to help facilitate the programme.’’