Aug 2

Sowing the seeds for success - Why Now Is the Time to Upskill NHS Managers

“If we want a well-run NHS, we must support those who run it. If we want leaders to be accountable, then we must give them the tools they need to do their jobs well.” 

These were the words of Amanda Pritchard, CEO of NHS England, in her keynote address at the NHS ConfedExpo back in June, outlining how important a well-trained workforce is. But how is this actually going to happen? 


If you’re looking for the right tools, skills and knowledge to thrive in your role, then continue reading.

Giving leaders the tools they need 

In her speech, Amanda outlined the close connection between opportunities and the tasks that need to be gripped if those opportunities are to be seized.

Task number one on that list, she said, was management and leadership.

As Amanda said, we have some brilliant, world-class leaders in the NHS. But, as she also acknowledged, many leaders and managers in the organisation are not professional managers, but clinicians. Others, meanwhile, are technical experts, in disciplines such as finance, estates and logistics.

“Promoted because they’re good at what they’ve been trained for, but often left to learn management on the job,” Amanda said in her speech.

Ever been great at your job, only to be promoted and expected to master management overnight? Surprise! Instead of receiving the development and encouragement you deserve, you're thrown into a new role with new expectations. We don’t believe this is good enough. Well-trained, well-supported managers produce well-performing teams. In turn, this helps with productivity, with staff morale, with all the things that the NHS needs to be performing at its best.

Let’s look at it this way for a second – let's imagine managers as gardeners. Stay with us. With the right tools and training, they could turn any garden into something perfect. It’s the same for managers; give them the right tools and training and they can produce great, productive teams far more easily. Without those tools, it becomes much more difficult.

And, at present, we know that training, leadership development and support for NHS managers is often lacking. 

Improvement and innovation 

Amanda also talked about the importance of ongoing improvement and innovation in keeping the managers and leaders of the future, you, in place – ensuring that retention is just as much of a focus as recruitment.


The setting up of improvement collaboratives and networks, allowing people to better share practical data and evidence-based techniques with their peers, is a good step in the right direction. As is the promise of further investment in tech.


However, we feel there still isn’t enough focus on the crucial missing ingredient – high-quality, bespoke leadership and development courses to ensure learning on the job is a thing of the past.


Providing the management, communication and operational skills that will allow you to be the best leader you can, whether you have a clinical or non-clinical background. 

Actions speak louder than words 

While it’s great to hear the focus placed on management and leadership by Amanda in her recent speech, it’s also vital that this is backed up by action.

One of those actions should be delivering role-specific content, something our e-learning platform offers in abundance. But why is this so important?

Well, let’s return to our gardening analogy for a moment. Gardeners need a very specific set of tools to help them give flowers and shrubs the care, love and attention they need, which makes it more likely they will bloom successfully. It’s the same for NHS managers – by giving them the very specific tools they need to succeed, it’s far more likely they will happy and content in their job and able to inspire their teams.

So, what exactly does evolve learning offer to make the above possible?
Our approach is two-pronged.
  • Firstly, we offer tailored, bite-sized, video-based courses – created by frontline NHS experts – that help inspire and motivate the healthcare leaders of the future. These CPD-accredited courses provide an inclusive learning experience, personalised coaching and an online community to help you conquer challenges together.
  • Secondly, we work with Trusts to curate and design their own courses, which can be hosted on our platform, with a focus on high-quality video production and courses that are credible, engaging and dynamic.

There is a clear gap in the market for more effective leadership and management training for NHS managers. Our founder, Karina Malhotra, witnessed it first-hand over a decade ago working on the NHS frontline.

Since then, unfortunately nothing much has changed. Evolve learning aims to remove that pain point once and for all, for the benefit of all those who work in and use the NHS.