Olly Benson

Biography

Olly spent over a decade working as a Heath and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered paramedic, and then as a Senior Paramedic Team Leader, for the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), before joining the University of Cumbria (UoC). He was initially employed by the UoC in April 2021 as a Clinical Lecturer (part-time), before accepting a full-time contract and becoming a Senior Lecturer in April 2023. He still works as a registered paramedic (part-time) for NWAS. 

Olly gained his Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education in October 2022 and currently works on the Paramedic Degree Apprenticeship Programme, Centre of Excellence in Paramedic Practice, Institute of Health. He is the module lead for the Preparing the Professional Practitioner, Developing Clinical Care, Judgement and Competence in Paramedic Practice and Leadership and Management modules, as well as being the subject lead for Teamwork and Communication. 

Prior to working for the NWAS and UoC, Olly worked as a Learning and Development Consultant, for Brathay. As part of this role, Olly directed many personal development and leadership courses, with broad range of clients, ranging from gangs from Lambeth and Brixton (by which he was named the ‘preferred facilitator for ‘exiting gang culture’ programmes), to corporate clients such as British Petroleum and the Scottish Executive. He spent 7 years in this role and worked throughout the UK, as well as several European locations. He was also appointed a team leader for ‘World Skills’, leading a team of apprentices in international competition in Japan and Canada.  He holds qualifications in Counselling, Life Coaching and Transactional Analysis and is a master practitioner and qualified coach in Neuro Linguistic Programming. 

Olly has spent the last 20 years involved in Mountain Rescue, working a Search Dog for 6 of those. He became the Team Leader of the Langdale/Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team in March 2023.  

Qualifications and memberships

BSc 3D Spatial Design (Brunel University)

Diploma Paramedic Science (UCLAN)

PgC Learning and Teaching for Higher Education (University of Cumbria)

Recent external roles

Registered Paramedic (part-time), North West Ambulance Service

Team leader, Langdale/Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team

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