Inspiring the next generation of AHP professionals

Inspiring the next generation of AHP professionals

On 14 October 2025, NES celebrated Allied Health Professions (AHPs) Day, an annual, international event recognising the vital contributions of AHPs across health and social care. 

This year, NES marked the day with a dynamic social media campaign and a week-long educational initiative designed to inspire the next generation of AHPs.

Raising awareness through education: AHP awareness week with DYW Live

In the lead-up to AHPs day, NES partnered with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Live to deliver an AHP Awareness Week from 6 to 12 October.

Themed #YouCanBeAnAHP, the week aimed to showcase the variety and impact of careers in the AHP family.

Highlights included:

• a live introductory session on Monday 6 October: engaging pupils through interactive tools like Mentimeter and fun facts about AHP roles
• classroom-ready resources:
  • pre-recorded presentations on each AHP role
  • a virtual escape room activity
  • 360 / VR films and accompanying class activities
  • links to further reading, blog pages and career resources on the NHS Scotland careers website
• a live Q and A panel session on Thursday 9 October: with practising AHPs and two occupational therapy students from Glasgow Caledonian University, who shared insights into student life and training

A standout feature was the interactive ThingLink resource which offered a rich multimedia experience for learners and received 366 views during the week.

AHPs Day 2025: social media highlights 

This year’s campaign marked a move to LinkedIn, following NES’s discontinuation of X. Despite the platform change, engagement was high, particularly on posts highlighting student stories and professional development opportunities.

Campaign overview:

• 12 posts shared via the NMAHP LinkedIn page
• nine posts published on AHPs Day itself with additional posts on 9, 13, and 15 October
• cross-promotion by NES Corporate Communications on LinkedIn and Facebook

Top Performing Posts by Engagement Rate:

Post Title	Engagement Rate
Student Post	86.7%
Practice-Based Learning Agreements	53.9%
AHP Return to Practice Consultation	49.3%
Preceptorship Guidance Launch	26.5%
Healthcare Support Worker Post	11.0%

Notes: Engagement rate = (Total engagements ÷ Total impressions) × 100 And LinkedIn engagement rates typically range from 2 to 6 % so these results are outstanding.

Content insights:

• carousels and downloadable resources drove the highest click-through rates
• image-based posts, such as 'Happy AHPs Day’ performed well in terms of reach and reactions
• text-only posts or those lacking a clear call to action saw lower engagement

Looking Ahead 

“The live sessions, virtual escape room, and student stories really showed the breadth and excitement of AHP careers,” said Gail Nash, AHP Principal Educator, NES. “It’s inspiring to see young people so engaged with our roles.” 

Building on the success of this year’s campaign and Awareness Week, NES will continue to champion AHP careers and reach even more young people, strengthening the future AHP workforce across Scotland.

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