THE newest paramedic recruits are enjoying a career switch.

Some of the latest graduates from the Essex Ambulance Trust’s student paramedic programme have unconventional professional pasts.

Emma Spencer, from Southend, spent many years riding thoroughbred racehorses – keeping them lean and fit ahead of big meets at the track. While she still loves everything equine, the 25-year-old knew it was time to make a career change.

Ms Spencer, who has also worked as a police special constable, said: “I really enjoy working with the community and always wanted to be in the emergency services.

“With horses. I couldn’t progress, there was no career path. With this course I have really challenged myself and enjoyed it.”

Ms Spencer, who will be stationed in Southend, was part of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust’s student paramedic course. The course will eventually lead to a degree.

More than 500 places have been offered on the trust’s student paramedic courses, and 411 of the new staff will have finished their initial training and be working in ambulances by the end of March.

For George Dan, whowill work from Basildon station, enrolling on the student paramedic course was a logical step. The 28-yearold from West Dulwich in south London, who has been working in post-natal care for four years, has a passion and natural affinity for the emergency services with experience as a volunteer coastguard rescue officer and as a retained firefighter.

He said: “In other first aid scenarios I have worked in I often wished I could help out more.

“I like the idea that you can progress and continue to learn.”

Over the past 12 weeks, the group has attended lectures and been put through regular practical sessions and assessments at the trust’s training centre in Chelmsford. The training programme was rounded off with three weeks of blue light driver training at Barton Mills in Suffolk.

From next week, the students will start work in ambulances and will be allocated mentors.

Sixteen students passed the course and will be based at stations across Essex – including Chelmsford, Basildon, Colchester, Southend and Welwyn.

They include Damien Lucraft, 26, from Clacton, who has a degree in graphic design and has previously worked as a recruitment consultant and in a management role for Sainsbury’s.

Helping out a family friend changed his perspective and prompted him to seek a new career.

Mr Lucraft, who will be based in Colchester, said: “My mum has a friend with Down’s syndrome and I started taking him out for the afternoons.

“I realised I wanted to help people and make a difference, really.”

Ian Britten, clinical operations manager, said: “They have been very, very good. They have been here for some late nights and early mornings which is testament to howmuch they have put into this course.”