Summary

Nicola McQueen, CEO of NHS Professionals, discusses the challenges and successes of leading a public sector organization. She shares her experience of navigating the differences between the private and public sectors, including the slower pace and more complex decision-making processes in the public sector. McQueen also highlights the transformation journey of NHS Professionals, from a business focused on temporary workforce solutions to a provider of training and new workforce for the NHS. She emphasizes the importance of stakeholder management and readiness for successful transformation. In this conversation, Nicola McQueen discusses the importance of resource allocation and communication in a transformation program. She shares that they initially underestimated the need for dedicated resources for communication and engagement, but eventually brought in external expertise to support their efforts. McQueen emphasizes the significant impact of effective communication on user adoption and the successful delivery of the technology. She also discusses the importance of diversity and inclusion in her organization and shares her experiences as a female CEO. McQueen highlights the need for balance and flexibility in managing both career and family responsibilities. She concludes by sharing her excitement for the future of NHSP, including plans to double the size of the business and create more opportunities for staff.

Bio

With over two decades of experience in recruitment, Nicola McQueen has continued to develop creative staffing solutions to complex business challenges across the private and public sectors. As CEO of NHS Professionals since 2019, McQueen led the business through the COVID-19 pandemic, successfully recruiting more than 50,000 healthcare professionals to the NHS at a critical time for the country. She continues to grow key parts of the business, such as its international offerings and non-nursing business.

Takeaways

• Leading a public sector organization requires navigating slower decision-making processes and complex governance structures.
• The transformation journey of NHS Professionals involved reshaping the organization, adopting new technology, and fundamentally rewriting processes.
• Stakeholder management and readiness are crucial for successful transformation in the public sector.
• NHS Professionals has evolved from a business focused on temporary workforce solutions to a provider of training and new workforce for the NHS. Underestimating the importance of resource allocation and communication can have significant negative impacts on the success of a transformation program.
• Bringing in external expertise can be crucial in ensuring effective communication and user adoption.
• Diversity and inclusion should be prioritized in organizations, and efforts should be made to create a more diverse workforce.
• Finding a balance between career and family responsibilities is essential, and it may require constant adjustment and flexibility.
• NHSP has ambitious plans for the future, including doubling the size of the business and creating more opportunities for staff.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Financial Impact of the Pandemic

06:10 Navigating the Differences Between Public and Private Sectors

13:12 Transformation of NHS Professionals

27:25 Resizing and Reshaping NHS Professionals

33:48 Underestimating the Importance of Resource Allocation and Communication

40:38 NHSP's Ambitious Plans for the Future

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business