From Teesside to Tech in the NHS - My Journey Through Purpose Lab
This is a guest blog by Manel Bouchekoua, a Purpose Lab Student Ambassador representing Teesside University. Passionate about inclusive design, digital equity, and AI for mental health, she aims to inspire more students from non-clinical backgrounds to explore meaningful careers in the NHS.
Tech careers in the NHS; I didn’t believe it—until Purpose Lab made it real for me!
As a Purpose Lab Student Ambassador, I joined a powerful UK-wide programme designed to elevate student voices in conversations about careers, inclusion, and social impact. I never expected it would open a door into the heart of the NHS — but that’s exactly what happened.
I study BSc Computer Science YR2 at Teesside University, and I’ve always been passionate about how tech can drive real change. But like many students outside clinical fields, I didn’t think the NHS was somewhere I could belong. That changed after one Purpose Lab session with Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT).
In that session, I represented students from digital and tech backgrounds and asked how the NHS is using AI and data to support mental health care. Their answer? Mind-blowing. (KMPT is already piloting AI Triage Tools, using dashboards to detect service gaps, and designing inclusive mental health platforms for people affected by neurodiversity and digital exclusion.
Even more inspiring: when I asked if students like me — non-clinical, from outside Kent — could apply, they said: “We don’t just want coders. We want change-makers.”
That one line flipped how I viewed my future. The NHS doesn’t just want staff. It needs diverse minds — especially in digital roles — to help build accessible, ethical, and scalable care solutions.
Purpose Lab taught me that careers aren’t just about job titles. They’re about impact. Today, I’m more confident in my skills, my story, and my ability to drive change in a space I never thought I’d enter.
