Almost 200 young people were given a taste of life on the frontline of healthcare as education providers and employers came together for a major careers event in North Wales.
Coleg Cambria welcomed school pupils, students and industry representatives to its Healthcare Heroes 2026 showcase in Wrexham, highlighting the opportunities available across the health and social care sector.
The event also brought together representatives from the North Wales Tertiary Alliance (NWTA), a partnership involving Coleg Cambria, Wrexham University, Bangor University and Grŵp Llandrillo Menai. The Alliance is working to strengthen collaboration across further and higher education, creating clearer pathways for learners and helping address skills shortages and workforce needs across the region.
Held at Cambria’s £14 million Nant building at Yale, Healthcare Heroes attracted around 190 learners, eight local employers and four guest speakers for a programme of inspirational talks, practical activities and careers advice. More than 100 pupils from schools across North Wales joined around 80 Coleg Cambria students, meeting professionals and learning about the qualifications, experience and personal qualities needed to succeed in the sector. Among the organisations represented were WeCare Wales, Pendine Park, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), PSS Shared Lives Wales, Mental Health Care UK and Llewelyn Healthcare Group. The programme included rotating sessions, giving participants the chance to hear from inspirational speakers, take part in hands-on activities and speak directly with employers about the realities of working in healthcare. The Nant building provided a fitting backdrop, with its industry-standard simulated hospital wards and specialist teaching facilities designed to prepare students for real working environments.
Dr Steven Peacock, Vice Principal for STEM and Academic Studies at Coleg Cambria, said: “Healthcare Heroes is about showing young people what a career in this sector can look like and giving them the confidence to consider opportunities they might not have thought about before. “There’s a huge variety of roles available, and events like this bring those opportunities to life. Meeting employers, hearing their experiences and getting involved in practical activities can make a real difference when students are thinking about their next steps.
“We’re grateful to Medr, our NWTA colleagues and guest speakers and the employers who supported the event. Their involvement helps us connect education with the skills and experience needed across health and social care.”
The expo built on the success of previous Healthcare Heroes gatherings and reflected the growing emphasis on collaboration between education providers and employers.
Earlier this year, Coleg Cambria strengthened its longstanding relationship with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board through an agreement focused on expanding education, training and employment opportunities across the region. Medr has also supported the development of the Advanced Skills Hub, a separate regional initiative involving Coleg Cambria and Wrexham University, designed to strengthen links between education and industry and respond to changing workforce demands.
