Ella Banks-Cromack
From a Public Services course to patient care, follow Ella's journey into helping others in her local community with passion and pride
Ella Banks Cromack joined Suffolk New College with a strong desire to help people and make a positive difference in her community. The Public Services course, with its focus on the police, ambulance and military services, immediately appealed to her and gave her a clear pathway into a career in the service sector.
Ella was drawn to the college because it offered a practical, career‑focused route into public services. She wanted to explore different ways of supporting the community and learn more about roles within the emergency and uniformed services. The course content and opportunities available made Suffolk New College the right place to start that journey.
During her time on Level 2 and Level 3 Public Services, Ella took part in residential trips, first‑aid training and discipline‑based activities that helped build her confidence and resilience. She highlights the residential as an important experience, especially the teamwork, ladder runs and late‑night rescue scenarios, which closely mirror the demands of her current role.
Originally interested in joining the police, Ella found herself increasingly drawn to the medical side of public services after taking part in practical first‑aid sessions and casualty‑care exercises.
Ella describes the lecturers as “very important” in her journey. Their professional backgrounds, such as experience in the police, brought the course to life and helped her understand what working in public services is really like. Mock interviews, guidance on presentation, and advice on what to expect in recruitment processes all helped her prepare for the workplace and build confidence.
After leaving college, Ella worked as a lifeguard at Crown Pools and then progressed into swim teaching. Looking for something different, she joined TG Hospital Transport Group, a role she discovered through a friend. She has now been with the company for over three years. TG Hospital Transport Group supports the NHS by helping patients who have no way of getting home after a hospital stay. Ella’s role involves working with very vulnerable patients, carrying out four‑man and six‑man lifts, and completing long shifts to ensure patients are transported safely and with care.
Ella is particularly proud of walking away from college with a high merit and achieving a strong grade gave her confidence and a clear sense of direction. The skills and knowledge she gained from the course made it easier to move into a service‑based role and prepared her for the kinds of questions and scenarios she now faces in her job.
Ella’s advice to future students: “Give it 100% always. College isn’t always easy, but it really does help you get to where you want to go. Do your coursework, ask for help if you’re struggling; there’s always support available; and give everything your best. Before I started college, I wouldn’t have known about this job or the opportunities in public services. Stick at it, live your life, and hope your dreams all come true.”