HEALTH officials are aiming to raise young people's awareness of careers in the NHS at an annual event this week.

Clinical and Strategic Health Authority staff will hold their 2005 Job Shops event on Thursday, and will visit five secondary schools in County Durham and the Tees Valley to show pupils the benefits of a job with the health service.

Careers in the NHS vary from catering to computing, or driving to dentistry, and officials are keen to promote the message that there is something for everyone.

At all the events, visitors will be able to meet and talk with staff from many different areas of the NHS, and discuss one of the 370 careers on offer.

Debi Hipkins, non-medical workforce expansion leader, said: "It is really important that the NHS workforce continues to grow and promote all the available careers in the NHS.

"We need to ensure that people are aware that the NHS is not an organisation made up of just doctors and nurses, we want to raise the profile of all careers. For example, do schoolchildren know you can have a career in accountancy, catering or even public relations?"

To learn more about a career in the NHS look at the careers website www.nhsca reers.nhs.uk or contact Ms Hipkins on (01642) 352060.