Conference

Strategic Workforce Forum

Name: Strategic Workforce Forum
Start: 2026-10-13
End: 2026-10-14
Location: The East Midlands Conference Centre

Book now for our annual flagship event for senior workforce leaders to discuss the future of workforce planning.

Book your place

General information

Time: 13 October 2026 10:00 - 14 October 2026 15:30 GMT
Add to calendar: Google iCal
Audience: Open to all
Event location: Nottingham, NG7 2RJ

Speakers

Ben Morrin
Chief Executive NHS Employers
Danny Mortimer
Director General for People DHSC
Lord Victor Adebowale
Chair The NHS Alliance
Sir Ciarán Devane
Chief executive The NHS Alliance
Steve McManus
Interim Chief Executive NHS College of Leadership and Management
Salma Yasmeen
Chief Executive Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Thomas Simons
Chief HR and OD officer NHS England
Claire Gore
Director of the Transforming People Services Programme NHS England
Martine Wright MBE
Paralympian and inspirational speaker
Neil Mullarkey
Communication expert and improv performer

A seminar leader presenting to delegates.

A dedicated forum for NHS workforce leaders

The Strategic Workforce Forum is a secure and confidential space designed for NHS workforce leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue around future strategic workforce planning and the advancement of the people profession.

The forum isn’t a conference; it’s a place for discussion and exchange of ideas. It’s where senior workforce leaders come together to lead the conversation and influence at a national level.

Participants to the event will benefit from hearing directly from our guests who will offer valuable insights to enhance leadership adaptability, address present-day challenges, and equip leaders with practical tools to support and strengthen their teams.

"This is my favourite conference of the year — it’s particularly good for connecting with others." (Chief people officer)

View the agenda

Tuesday 13 October

10:00 –11:00am - Registration and exhibition
11:00 -11:30am - Leading with you - my first thoughts as NHS Employers' new CEO
Ben Morrin, chief executive, NHS Employers
11:30am –12:15pm - Leadership challenges and opportunities for the future of the NHS
Lord Victor Adebowale, chair, the NHS Alliance
12:15 – 12:45pm - NHS College of Leadership and Management
Steve McManus, interim chief executive, NHS College of Leadership and Management
12:45 - 1:45pm - Lunch and exhibition
1:45 – 2:30pm - The future of NHS leadership: best practise sharing and preparation for panel discussion
Facilitated by Caroline Waterfield, director of workforce supply and employment practice, NHS Employers
2:30 – 3:15pm - Panel discussion: The future of NHS leadership
Ben Morrin, Salma Yasmeen, Lord Victor Adebowale and Steve McManus
3:15- 3:45pm - Break and exhibition

3:45 – 4:30pm - Breakout sessions with event partners

Event partner	Session title	Session overview	Location
Salary Finance	Common ground	Get 45 minutes that feels and hits differently. No slides full of data, no pitch, and no logos doing the talking. just space for peers to be honest about what's hard, learn, draw strength and celebrate the collective talent and potential from the people who really get it.	Banqueting suite
RLDatix	From staff survey to better working lives	With the 2026 NHS Staff Survey underway, organisations are investing enormous effort in hearing from their people. Turning those responses into better working lives is the next challenge: understanding where to focus, what needs to change and whether action is making a difference. This session will explore the opportunity to better understand staff experience and strengthen the connection between listening and improvement.	Conference suite 3
Wesleyan	From workforce cliff edge to managed transition: Retaining NHS expertise through financial wellbeing, flexible careers and retirement confidence	This session will explore how financial wellbeing, retirement confidence and informed financial decision-making can support workforce sustainability, strengthen retention and enable more flexible career pathways. As portfolio careers and phased retirement become increasingly common, organisations have an opportunity to retain valuable expertise through clinical practice, leadership, education, mentoring and service improvement.	Conference suite 4

4:30 - 5:30pm - Courage and creativity: using improv to empower leadership in complex times
Neil Mullarkey, communication expert and improv performer
5:30 – 5:45pm - Summary, reflections and close
Ben Morrin, chief executive, NHS Employers
7:30-8.00pm - Drinks reception
8:00pm - Dinner

Wednesday 14 October

8:30 – 9:15am - Breakfast sessions, exhibition and networking

Delivered by

Session title

Session details

Location

NHS Shared Business Services

Building the case for recruitment automation: Driving productivity and transformation

Automation has the potential to unlock significant efficiencies by reducing administrative burdens, freeing up time for patient care, and enabling a greater focus on strategic operational initiatives. However, simply automating existing processes is not enough. To support organisations and systems in moving towards the national Transforming People Services target operating model, and to achieve the 2 per cent productivity improvement mandate, trusts must first build a compelling business case for change. From there, attention can shift to the critical elements of process redesign and cultural readiness, without which transformation efforts are unlikely to succeed.

Join this interactive breakout session to hear how Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is transforming its recruitment process through automation, and the impact this is having. You'll gain practical advice that can support with building a successful business case for automation, understand the key considerations for implementation, and have the opportunity to ask questions of our expert panellists.

Conference suite 3

The Wellbeing Collective

Neuro-inclusive workforce: Beyond the adjustment conversation

Neuro inclusion has often centred on individual disclosure, reasonable adjustments and reactive support. These remain important, but they are only part of the solution. How can NHS people leaders shape environments, systems and cultures that help neurodivergent colleagues flourish while improving working life for everyone?

This interactive 45-minute workshop explores a stepped approach to neuro inclusion: creating inclusive conditions for all, offering personalised support where needed, and drawing on specialist expertise when appropriate. We will consider how organisations can make support accessible without relying solely on colleagues disclosing a diagnosis or repeatedly explaining their needs.

Through practical examples, creative activities and shared discussion, participants will explore everyday opportunities for change, including clearer communication, more flexible working practices, thoughtful meeting design and supportive conversations. Curious questions and simple interventions can help teams move beyond assumptions and find what works for different people.

We will also attend to the needs of managers supporting neurodivergent colleagues. What helps them feel confident, supported and clear about their role? We will explore practical tools, advice pathways and opportunities for reflection. Participants will leave with fresh perspectives and achievable ideas to embed neuro inclusion into everyday NHS culture, creating the conditions for colleagues, managers and teams to flourish together.

Conference suite 4

9:15 - 9:30am Welcome and opening session
Ben Morrin, chief executive, NHS Employers
9:30 – 10:30am - The power of 7: A story of transformation
Martine Wright MBE, paralympian and inspirational speaker
10:30 – 11:00am - Break and exhibition
11:00 – 12:45 Court room drama: The transformation of NHS People Services
Tom Simons, chief HR and OD officer and Claire Gore, director of the transforming people services programme, NHS England
12:45 – 1:30pm - Lunch and exhibition
1:30 – 2:00pm NHS reform agenda: where next?
Sir Ciarán Devane, chief executive, the NHS Alliance
2:00 –3:15pm - Make it happen, make it better, make it count
Daniel Mortimer, director general for people, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
3:15 - 3:30pm - Summary, reflections and close
Ben Morrin, chief executive, NHS Employers

Who can attend

This event is strictly for strategic people leaders within the NHS, this will include:

human resources directors (HRDs)
chief people officers (CPOs)
directors of workforce.

Book your place

Please note: This conference is now fully booked.

Cost

The cost of the forum is £420 per person. This covers full access to the two-day event and includes your accommodation and meals.

Registered delegates will receive confirmation of their place upon completing the booking form.

Attending the event

Timings

The event begins on Tuesday 13 October with registration at 10am and the first session starts at 11am. All delegates will come together for dinner on Tuesday evening.

The conference closes at 3:30pm on Wednesday 14 October.

Location

East Midlands Conference Centre, Beeston Lane, Nottingham, NG7 2RJ

By car

The East Midlands Conference Centre is 10 minutes from J25 of the M1 and the centre of Nottingham.

By rail

The East Midlands Conference Centre is approximately four miles away from Nottingham train station and two miles from Beeston train station.

Accommodation

Bookings include one night's accommodation at the Orchard Hotel and Restaurant which is located next door to the conference venue.

Partnerships, sponsorship and exhibition opportunities

This event offers unique access to board level NHS workforce leaders. We have a range of sponsorship and exhibition opportunities - see the partnership brochure for further information, or get in touch with Henry Crawford to discuss further.

Download our partnership brochure.

Strategic Workforce Forum

General information

Speakers

A dedicated forum for NHS workforce leaders

View the agenda

Who can attend

Book your place

Cost

Attending the event

Timings

Location

Accommodation

Partnerships, sponsorship and exhibition opportunities

Related content

Information for chief people officers in the South East region

Information for chief people officers in the Midlands region

Information for chief people officers in the East of England region

Information for chief people officers in the North East and Yorkshire region