Recruiting in the UK 

The coalition Government's White Paper Equity and excellence: liberating the NHS, published in July 2010, upholds the current values and principles of the NHS as well as requiring the NHS to achieve unprecedented efficiency gains.

The NHS is required to release up to £20 billion of efficiency savings by 2014, whilst demand on NHS services will continue to increase as the population grows and ages. Additionally, the Government will reduce NHS management costs by more than 45 per cent over the next four years, freeing up further resources for front-line care. This puts pressure on employers to ensure they attract and retain the right talent to continue to deliver high-quality patient care and remain an employer of choice - now and in the future.

As a public sector employer, and the largest employer in Europe, the NHS also has a duty to increase employment opportunities for young people, graduates, multi-disadvantaged groups and the long-term unemployed. As well as fulfilling their social responsibility, NHS organisations will benefit from a more diverse workforce, which, in turn, can lead to more innovation, higher staff satisfaction and better patient care.

NHS Employers' contribution

NHS Employers is working with NHS organisations, the Department of Health, Jobcentre Plus and the Cabinet Office to promote the NHS as a place to access a range of opportunities including apprenticeships, internships, work experience and volunteering.

The pages in this section will help you to understand the range of routes into NHS employment and the support available to employers.

• For detail on what employers need to do to survive tighter budgets and prepare for economic recovery, read our briefing and employers' checklist.
• Find out more about the different pathways to employment in the NHS.
• For information on Jobcentre Plus partnerships and employer incentives, read our page on Jobcentre Plus partnerships and visit the Jobcentre Plus website.