A nursing student who is also training to be in the army’s Reserve Forces has received a £2,500 award for her work.
Georgia Jobes completed this stage of her military education alongside her Nursing Studies degree at Northumbria University. The University has close links with the Army, particularly the 201 (Northern) Field Hospital in Newcastle who Georgia trained with.
The Partnership for Talent award was granted as part of a new national scheme which looks to improve recruitment to army reservist programmes, particularly those with clinical skills.
“I come from a military background and was first introduced to Army Reserves through family members,” explains Georgia, age 20, from Northumberland. “I’m delighted to have received the Partnership for Talent award and think that it provides a great incentive for healthcare students like myself to get involved with the reserves.”
Professor Kath McCourt CBE, Honorary Colonel and Executive Dean of Health and Life Sciences courses at Northumbria University, presented Georgia with her cheque at the awards evening. She said:
“Northumbria University regularly supports students, especially from health profession courses, joining the Army’s Reserve Force and we have a number of students already on the Reservist Register.
"Georgia’s commitment to her military education and training has been exemplary. She will graduate as both a qualified nurse and a qualified soldier. This award opens more doors for her and enhances her employability.”
For Georgia, balancing her academic and army life has been made easier by continued support from University staff.
“Of course it can be hard at times to manage my university work alongside the commitments to my unit, but Northumbria has been extremely supportive throughout this process,” she said.
“I’m in regular contact with my guidance tutor who has been very helpful in addressing my queries about time management. I’m really enjoying the course so far – I can’t wait to go back out on placement in November.”
Two other students were also awarded Partnership for Talent awards for their work with the Regiment. Lance Corporal Helen Brittain, a second-year Operating Department Practice student, who was unable to attend on the evening, and Private Christine Smith, who joined the unit in January this year before graduating from Northumbria as a fully qualified nurse.
Lieutenant Colonel Ian Simpson, a representative from 201 Field Hospital who attended the evening, said: “It is always a pleasure to have the opportunity to reinforce our links with Northumbria University in a way which is mutually beneficial to both our organisations and our people. The Army, and in our case the Army Medical Services, are continually looking for established and progressive clinicians to serve in our regionally recruited Field Hospital.
“This unit, like Northumbria University, are proud of our links to Newcastle and the North of England and we both take every opportunity to show the rest of the UK our best and brightest individuals.
“We now hope that the latest trainee clinicians to receive the Partnership for Talent award will use this event as a spring board for a long and distinguished career within the Reserve Forces and in particular 201 (Northern) Field Hospital. We will hopefully compliment Georgia’s future nursing skills with appropriate leadership training, medical planning, individual challenges and an opportunity to travel the world.”
