Overview of the healthcare sector in the UK

Author
Darcy Nathan, Editorial assistant
Posted
February, 2025
View all healthcare jobs

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? With over 350 roles available in the NHS and exciting opportunities in private and charity healthcare, there's a pathway for everyone

The UK's healthcare sector is booming, with a projected 50,000 new positions expected to be created in the coming years. This growth is fuelled by an increasing demand for high-quality healthcare services, driven by an ageing population and advancements in medical technology.  

Exciting career opportunities are available for individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests, particularly in the following areas: 

  • allied health 
  • frontline care 
  • nursing. 

However, problems such as pay-related strikes and staff shortages in key areas like general practice persist. Despite these challenges, a career in healthcare can be incredibly rewarding for those who want to positively impact people's lives.

What areas of healthcare can I work in?

Employment opportunities can be grouped into:

  • allied health (e.g. physiotherapy, radiography, and occupational therapy)
  • ambulance services
  • complementary therapies
  • dentistry
  • health informatics
  • health promotion
  • healthcare administration and management
  • healthcare science (e.g. clinical engineering, biomedical science, and pathology)
  • medical equipment sales
  • medicine (e.g. doctors, surgeons, and GPs)
  • medical research
  • midwifery
  • nursing
  • nutrition and diet
  • optometry and opticians
  • pharmacy
  • psychological therapies.

In large organisations such as the National Health Service (NHS) and private healthcare providers such as Bupa, there are also jobs for graduates in:

  • customer care
  • finance
  • hospitality
  • human resources (HR)
  • IT
  • legal services
  • marketing
  • procurement
  • sales.

Alternatively, you might consider health-related roles in the science and pharmaceuticals or leisure, sport and tourism sectors.

What's the difference between public, private and charity healthcare employers?

Your ideal career path depends on your personal values and aspirations. When exploring sectors of the healthcare industry, ask yourself what's important to you - job stability, high earnings, or contributing to your community?   

Additionally, make sure the industry supports your long-term career goals. Do you envision yourself specialising in a field like informatics, managing teams, or pursuing research? 

Public healthcare employment

If you choose to work in public healthcare, you'll work for the NHS. It is the largest employer in the sector, employing 1.6 million people, placing it among the largest workforces in the world. 

Pros: 

  • job security 
  • generous benefits packages, including paid time off and pension plans 
  • contributing directly to the health and well-being of your community. 

Cons: 

  • salaries in the public sector can be lower than those in private healthcare 
  • issues with underfunding and overstretched resources can lead to high workloads and potential burnout. 

The NHS offers incentives to eligible full-time medical or dental students to join their workforce, including a:  

  • bursary 
  • £1,020 grant 
  • Maintenance Loan from Student Finance England.  

Visit NHS Business Services Autority - Student Services for more details on the support available.

Private healthcare employment

A significant proportion of the sector's workforce is in independent healthcare, particularly within social care, where around four-fifths (78%) of jobs are private.  

These providers are often contracted to deploy services on behalf of the NHS to give more comprehensive healthcare services to patients across the UK. 

Pros: 

  • higher starting salaries, typically 10-20% more than public sector positions 
  • more flexible work schedules and better work-life balance. 

Cons: 

  • more pressure to meet financial targets and profit margins in private healthcare 
  • less emphasis on community service compared to the public sector. 

Independent healthcare employers include: 

  • Bupa 
  • BMI Healthcare 
  • Care UK 
  • Nuffield Health 
  • Ramsay Health Care UK 
  • Spire Healthcare. 

Healthcare employment in the charity industry

If you choose to work in the charity sector of healthcare, you could be employed by an organisation like Macmillan Cancer Support or a hospice, or you could become self-employed and offer allied health therapies. 

Pros: 

  • contribution to a specific cause to make a significant difference 
  • self-employment within the charity sector offers flexibility and autonomy. 

Cons: 

  • higher financial risk and administrative burdens 
  • the challenges in securing funding for charity work  
  • less job security compared to the public or private sectors. 

Other voluntary and non-profit employers in the sector include: 

  • British Red Cross 
  • Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) UK 
  • Nuffield Health 
  • Save the Children 
  • Sue Ryder.

What's it like working in the healthcare industry?

The healthcare industry offers a range of rewarding careers, but it's important to understand what to expect before diving in. 

Compensation

  • National pay rates - most professionals, excluding doctors, dentists, and senior managers, receive salaries based on national pay scales. This ensures fair compensation across the country. 
  • Competitive salaries - especially those requiring specialised skills or advanced degrees. 

Working hours

  • Shift work - including evenings, nights, and weekends. This can impact on your personal life and social schedules. 
  • Long hours - depending on the role, especially during busy periods or in emergency situations. 

Working environment

  • Stressful - a high-pressure environment with demanding workloads. 
  • Emotionally challenging - dealing with sick or injured patients, and sometimes difficult family members. 
  • Rewarding - despite the challenges, many healthcare professionals find their work incredibly satisfying, knowing they make a positive difference in people's lives. 

Other considerations

  • National opportunities - the potential to work anywhere in the country. This can be advantageous for those who enjoy travelling or relocating. 
  • Continuing education - the industry is constantly evolving, so ongoing professional development is often necessary to maintain skills and licences. 
  • Physical demands - some roles can be physically demanding, requiring lifting, bending, and standing for long periods. 

Take a look at healthcare job profiles to learn more about typical salaries and working conditions in your chosen role. 

What skills do healthcare employers want?

Healthcare employers value a variety of skills, depending on the specific role. For example, surgeons require a different skillset than general practitioners. However, several general skills are essential across healthcare roles, including: 

  • the ability to remain composed and focused in high-pressure situations  
  • meticulous attention to detail  
  • an empathetic and approachable nature to connect with patients and their families during challenging times 
  • strong communication skills to effectively advise patients about their treatment options 
  • the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, as patient care often requires a multidisciplinary approach. 

To pursue graduate healthcare careers like medicine, nursing, midwifery, or allied health, you must be a registered healthcare professional. This typically requires a relevant approved degree and registration with a professional body. 

If you haven't completed an approved first degree, you can opt for a graduate-entry accelerated course to jumpstart your clinical career. Some of these courses may require a science or health-related degree, while others are open to graduates from any discipline. However, a minimum 2:2 grade and significant work experience are generally expected for success. 

For information on this pathway, see NHS - Accelerated programmes. 

In certain roles, such as paramedic, physiotherapist and occupational therapist, you can progress from an assistant level through in-service, work-based learning, which may include degree-level study. See how to become an allied health professional for more information. 

Postgraduate study is an essential component of training for several roles, including pharmacy and clinical psychology. In other areas, such as nursing and midwifery, you can specialise by pursuing post-registration courses at the postgraduate level. 

To explore pathways into healthcare careers, visit the websites of the relevant professional bodies: 

How do I find a graduate job in the healthcare industry?

Jobs within the NHS are advertised through NHS Jobs and individual NHS Trust websites. Jobs in independent healthcare are usually advertised on company websites or via specialist recruitment agencies. 

For graduates looking to enter the healthcare sector, the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme provides pathways in: 

To be eligible, you’ll typically require a 2:2 degree in any subject.  

Additionally, the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) caters to those with a 2:1 degree in pure or applied sciences. This programme combines paid employment with the pursuit of a Masters degree in specialised fields like: 

  • blood sciences 
  • genetics 
  • medical physics. 

Other healthcare graduate schemes include: 

  • Alliance Medical - offers training pathways in MRI/CT and PET-CT scans. 
  • Avalere Health - rotational programme across medical, marketing, and policy. 
  • DMC Healthcare - business rotations, including finance, governance and marketing. 

For graduate programmes in pharmaceuticals, see science graduate schemes. 

A proactive approach is often key to finding work with smaller healthcare organisations. Direct contact through speculative applications can increase your chances of landing a role. 

Tailoring your CV to each specific role is crucial, and networking through industry events and volunteering in healthcare settings can also be helpful in your job search. 

To stay informed about application deadlines and gain valuable insights into the healthcare job market, visit NHS - Health careers.  

Find out more

Written by Darcy Nathan, Editorial assistant

Prospects · February 2025

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