Why is Salisbury a great place to work?
For hundreds of years, Salisbury has attracted skilled ingenious people who understand the importance of care and attention to detail. Now in the 21st century, these attributes are as important as ever. And because Salisbury is a beautiful historic city with a strong sense of community, it is a great place to live, work and succeed.
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust – which runs Salisbury District Hospital (SDH) – is the largest employer in the city with a workforce of over 4,000 people.
The workforce includes doctors, nurses and radiologists, electricians, carpenters and engineers, cleaners, managers and porters – all providing an essential part of the team. But why choose Salisbury? What is it about the city that makes it such a special place to live and work? We asked the people who choose to work at SDH that very question, and here are some of their answers…
Sense of community
One of the top reasons people love to work in Salisbury is the community here, with staff at Salisbury District Hospital saying it “feels like a family with a small local feel and is multicultural” and has an “outstanding, inclusive and community feel”.
Since COVID-19 struck the community spirit in Salisbury has shone and the hospital has received fantastic support from the public and colleagues from the military and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Even before the pandemic, the community would pull together for the hospital’s charity The Stars Appeal. From young to old, people take on weird and wonderful challenges to fundraise. The money raised then goes back to supporting the hospital and the community by paying for enhanced care and additional support to the hospital staff.
And the giving back doesn’t stop there! Businesses is Salisbury support the NHS through discounts to staff. There is also a Salisbury Hospital NHS discount booklet that local businesses have got involved in to say thank you to NHS workers for all the hard work they do.
The breath-taking countryside
Swap packed trains for country lanes. Forget busy city life and breath.
Salisbury is nestled in the Wiltshire countryside so you don’t need to travel far before you are surrounded by beautiful green rolling hills, picturesque villages and rambling rivers.
The Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is perfect for those who want to get away from it all. The nationally protected landscape is the 6th largest in the country and one of the most rural with wild open spaces, beautiful chalk down land, and ancient woods rich in history and wildlife.
Outstanding education establishments
There are many excellent education opportunities, for young and old.
Six schools in the area have been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and there are two Grammar Schools: South Wilts Grammar School for girls and Bishop Wordsworth’s School for boys. They have over 200 years of history between them and a reputation for excellence, with South Wilts regularly featured in The Sunday Time’s Best State Schools list.
History with a mix of the modern
Salisbury’s medieval origins are clear to see. Salisbury Cathedral, The Cathedral Close and Old Sarum showcase the history here but, we have all the facilities of a modern city too.
From a well-respected theatre and cinema to unique independent shops – Salisbury has the perfect mix of a Traditional Original city.
Travel connections
Salisbury is a city with connections.
With excellent road, rail and bus links it’s easy to get around, whether you want to stay local or travel a bit further afield.
There is easy access to the A303, and main routes to the South West and the capital.
Salisbury Reds offers a comprehensive timetable with bus routes across the city and region, as well as operating Salisbury's Park & Ride services.
Salisbury train station is on the main line to London with a commute of just one and a half hours. Direct trains also run to Bristol, Southampton and Exeter.
Airports in Southampton and Bournemouth are less than a 45-minute drive away, with Heathrow, Gatwick and Bristol easily accessible by road and train.
Arts, entertainment & festivals
Over the last 800 years Salisbury has developed a strong tradition of arts and culture. The city is a melting-pot of creativity with theatre, exhibitions and festivals all on offer.
People who live and work here can take advantage of shows at the Salisbury Playhouse and Salisbury Arts Centre.
There is also the popular International Arts Festival that attracts an audience from around the world and the Salisbury Comedy Festival is new for 2021.
Salisbury’s Chalke Valley History Festival is the largest festival dedicated to history and the Larmer Tree Festival not far from the city is a popular mix of music and family entertainment.
Top attractions
Salisbury offers an experience like no other, with much to discover within the city and surrounding areas.
Salisbury Cathedral has the tallest in the country and is a feat of medieval engineering. Here you can also see the best preserved Magna Carta and the world’s oldest working clock.
Head to Old Sarum to see where Salisbury’s history began and travel even further back in time with a trip to Stonehenge.
For family fun, there is Wilton House with its adventure playground and Longleat for an up-close animal experience.
Salisbury has so much to offer as a place to live and work – why not make the move to our beautiful city a reality! For further information about relocating to Salisbury, click here.
For job opportunities at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust click here.