The programme
08:30
Registration & Networking
Registration & Networking
09:30
Chair Opening Address (Confirmed)
Brandie Deignan
Chief Executive Officer
Pier Health Group
Chair Opening Address (Confirmed)
09:50
Tackling NHS Workforce Retention Panel Discussion
Kevin Anderson
Dr/Prof
GP Partner and Director of Workforce Haxby Group Primary Care Workforce Lead Humber North Yorkshire Integrated Care System Visiting Professor Coventry University
Patrick Fowler
Associate
Shared Ventures Ltd
Helen Holmes-Fogg
CEO
National Association of Sessional GPs (NASGP)
With a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, staff retention has emerged as one of the most pressing workforce challenges. The panel discussion will bring together leaders within workforce planning, clinicians and policy makers to explore the causes of these challenges across NHS roles.
Key Discussion Points:
- Impact of working conditions, pay, and staff morale.
- Strategies for improving career progression, training and support.
- Role of flexible working, well-being initiatives, and leadership culture.
- Effectiveness of current policies and the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan’s ambitions to retain staff.
Panellists:
- Danielle Bird, Operations Manager, The Hill (Provisionally Confirmed)
- Jenny Lewis, Director of Human Resources and Occupational Development, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (Invited)
- Dr Jacqui Hepburn M.Ed., CFCCIPD, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Workforce, NHS 24 (Invited)
- Patrick Fowler, Associate, Shared Ventures Ltd (Confirmed)
- Kevin Anderson, GP & Director of Workforce, Haxby Group, Primary Care Workforce Lead, HNY Health & Care Partnership (Confirmed)
10:30
Presentation - Motivating the Workforce Through Non-Monetary Rewards: Cost-Effective Strategies to Boost Engagement and Retention (Confirmed)
Mr Manoj Tank
Practice Manager
Mayfield Medical Centre, Farnborough
In a system where financial resources are limited, workforce motivation often defaults to discussions on pay and incentives. My presentation will showcase how non-monetary approaches—such as recognition frameworks, career development opportunities, flexible working patterns, peer-led initiatives, and culture-building practices—can deliver significant improvements in staff engagement, satisfaction, and retention.
Drawing on practical examples I have implemented within NHS primary care, I will demonstrate how these innovative yet low-cost strategies can:
- Strengthen team morale and commitment.
- Reduce attrition without increasing budgetary pressures.
- Support the wider NHS goals of staff wellbeing and sustainable workforce planning.
This contribution complements the broader conference themes by highlighting a practical, replicable approach to workforce transformation—proving that motivation doesn't always have to come with a financial price tag.
10:50
Morning Break & Networking
Morning Break & Networking
11:50
Chair Morning Reflection (Confirmed)
Brandie Deignan
Chief Executive Officer
Pier Health Group
Chair Morning Reflection (Confirmed)
11:55
Case Study - Managing Compliance Risk and Optimising Cost in Off-Payroll Engagements
Matt Fryer
Managing Director
Plus Us (Part of the Brookson Group)
Case Study - Plus Us
This session will discuss the current and emerging trends shaping off-payroll workforce management, with particular focus on:
- Hidden IR35 risk – how the rise of insourcing can create unforeseen compliance challenges.
- Eliminating umbrella risk and avoiding exposure to non-compliant models.
- Lessons from HMRC updates and industry insight on umbrella tax changes and compliance obligations.
- VAT savings opportunities and how organisations can gain visibility and control of locum spend.
We’ll also share case studies where Plus Us helped an organisation reduce reliance on umbrella companies, deliver measurable VAT savings, and improve workforce visibility and control and where Plus Us uncovered and resolved a significant IR35 risk concerning an insourcing provider.
12:15
Case Study - Scaling NHS Capacity Through Digital Workforce Partnerships
Case Study - RotaMaster
Presented by RotaMaster & GPDQ
Zubeda Shaikh – Finance Director
Sam Avery – Marketing Director
12:35
Fireside Interview - The impact of healthcare reform on workforce (Confirmed)
Rt Hon Andrew Stephenson CBE
Former Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Care
Drawing on his experience as a former DHSC minister Andrew will talk candidly about his time in office and provide insight into the challenges and opportunities the current governments will face whilst perusing their healthcare reforms.
12:55
Case Study - Reflections on the Future
Will Laing
Operations Director
NHS Workforce Alliance
Case Study - NHS Workforce Alliance
This session will explore contemporary trends in the contingent labour workforce supply to the NHS, including thoughts on:
- the rebalancing of bank and agency supply
- the deployment of outsourced and insourced services
- the role of the commercial sector in permanent recruitment
- the increasing criticality of workforce support systems
The current situation is fluid and hard to predict. The session will end with an open Q&A to give delegates the opportunity to share ideas.
14:00
Chair Afternoon Address (Confirmed)
Brandie Deignan
Chief Executive Officer
Pier Health Group
Chair Afternoon Address (Confirmed)
14:05
Interview Session - How to ditch the superhero and be more superhuman (Confirmed)
Dr Sarah Coope
Director of Training
Wild Monday Resilience Ltd
In healthcare, many of us have internalised the message that we need to be heroes - constantly available, endlessly capable, and always putting patients and colleagues first. But the cost of this mindset is burnout, disillusionment, and workforce attrition.
In this honest and practical interview with the chair, Dr Sarah Coope will explore and take questions from the audience about how the 'superhero' narrative drives unhealthy work habits and prevents staff from setting boundaries. Drawing on over 20 years of experience as a GP, medical educator and conflict resolution expert, she will offer a compelling alternative: a shift from heroic self-sacrifice to sustainable leadership and self-compassion.
This session will resonate with anyone trying to lead, support or retain a workforce under pressure. It’s a call to let go of perfectionism, embrace our limits, and create a healthier, more human way of working in the NHS.
14:25
Workshop - How can you build trust in your system? (Confirmed)
Jason Greasley
Leadership Consultant & Head of Coaching and Leadership Transformation
Buckinghamshire Health & Social Care Academy
Trust is crucial for effective teamwork and collaboration. Without it, sharing knowledge and learning from each other becomes challenging.
Trust is the foundation for any relationship both at home and work, absence of trust across teams and in systems is the most severe dysfunction a team can have. Doing more with less means we MUST work better across systems and build the foundations for the future. If we do not trust each other, will we share knowledge, will we learn from each other?
Building trust through communications involves creating systems and protocols that allow different organisations, technologies, and teams to work together seamlessly. Here are some key aspects to consider:
Consistent Information Sharing: Regular and structured communication helps maintain relationships and operational capabilities between all stakeholders.
Interagency Collaboration: Successful projects require collaboration between different agencies, considering their unique needs, capabilities, and operational practices.
How can you build trust in your system?
14:55
Interview Session - A policy viewpoint of the Workforce (Confirmed)
Ameneh Saatchi
Founder and CEO
Global Policy Network
An interview session with Ameneh Ghazal Saatchi, CEO of Global Policy Network, to discuss a policy viewpoint of the following:
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Future proofing the workforce - Pharmacy and Multi-Professional Prescribing
-
Workforce transformation within pharmacy
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Workforce innovation - medicines optimisation within education
15:15
Presentation - What you need to know about Generations to plan your Sustainable Workforce (Confirmed)
Mr Chris Sleight MSc BSc FIBMS
Ex Diagnostics Leader within the NHS
Since the millennium the world population has increased by 33%. WHO predict this growth will continue for the next 80 years. By 2100 average life expectancy in the UK is predicted to increase to over 90 years of age.
The healthcare needs of the UK population are already increasing with an increasing percentage of over sixty-fives, whilst the percentage of the population at an employable age is reducing. Demand on Health Services will continue at a rapid rate.
Chris has previously delivered an extremely well received presentation asking whether Generations Z and Alpha were the answer to our workforce crisis. Returning this year by popular demand, Chris will build on previous thoughts and share further recent research, providing insights into a workforce which now comprises 5 different generational stereotypes with different aspirations and beliefs.
Chris will revisit and update on the stereotypes of Generation Z and Alpha as we create a better understanding around their employment and career needs, and ask how we create a workforce with the skills, incentives, capacity and capability of sustaining and providing high quality Imaging services to an increasing population.
15:35
Primary Care at the Core: Strengthening the Workforce for a Sustainable Future Panel Discussion
Kevin Anderson
Dr/Prof
GP Partner and Director of Workforce Haxby Group Primary Care Workforce Lead Humber North Yorkshire Integrated Care System Visiting Professor Coventry University
Asad Ashraf
GP, CCIO, Medical Director
Chingford Medical Practice, Bromley Healthcare, E4 Network
Helen Holmes-Fogg
CEO
National Association of Sessional GPs (NASGP)
Primary care is the backbone of the NHS, it faces increasing pressure from rising demand, workforce shortages, and changing patient expectations. The panel discussion will bring together GPs, policy leaders and workforce planners to discuss ways in which to strengthen and sustain the primary care workforce.
Key Discussion Points:
- The current state of the primary care workforce.
- GP recruitment and retention.
- The role of multidisciplinary teams, which include pharmacists, paramedics, and physician associates.
- Innovative models of care and digital tools.
- Training expansion to shift towards community-based and apprenticeship routes.
- Workload management, strategies, and work-life balance.
Panellists:
- Kevin Anderson, GP & Director of Workforce, Haxby Group, Primary Care Workforce Lead, HNY Health & Care Partnership (Confirmed)
- Paul Renshaw, Executive Director of Workforce, NHS Devon, Primary and Social Care (Invited)
- Kristin Francis, Director of Primary Care, Care Unbound (Invited)
- Asad Ashraf, GP, CCIO, Medical Director, Chingford Medical Practice, Bromley Healthcare, E4 Network (Confirmed)
16:05
Food, Drinks and Networking
Food, Drinks and Networking
