Conference

Midlands and East SPF conference 2025

Join our annual conference on 3 December to explore good practice and partnership working in support of delivering the NHS 10 Year Health Plan.
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General information

Time
3 December 2025 09:15 - 15:40 GMT
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Audience
Open to all
Event location
Peterborough, PE2 6GB
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This annual, in-person event is for trade union and HR professionals and SPF members working across the Midlands and East of England.  

The key theme this year is looking at how best to support the regional workforce to deliver the NHS 10 Year Health Plan (10YHP).

We'll explore the role of partnership working in this area, thinking about new approaches and showcasing good practice from inside and outside the region, with a range of keynote speakers to lead the conversation and breakout sessions to hear practical insights from colleagues.  

As ever, the conference will offer plenty of opportunities to connect, network and share learning throughout the day. 
 

Conference chairs

The conference will be co-chaired by:

  • Ali Koeltgen, Chief People Officer, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Caroline Hennessy, Regional Head of Health, UNISON
  • Liz Cooke, Director of HR and Organisational Development, Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust
     

Your registration

If you cannot use your registered place, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing eventbookings@nhsconfed.org. 
 

Agenda

Morning Sessions

  • Registration and networking over refreshments.

  • Hear what the day entails and connect with those on your table.  

    • Ali Koeltgen, Chief People Officer, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Caroline Hennessy, Regional Head of Health, UNISON

  • Paul Corrigan will share next steps and medium-term actions for implementing the 10YHP. Paul worked with the secretary of state to co-produce the 10YHP through multiple stakeholder and policy-maker engagement sessions, while providing independent views on its implementation.

    • Paul Corrigan, Non-Executive Director, NHS England

  • Time to take a break, grab some refreshments and network with colleagues.

  • Insights from the national SPF and NHS England regional directors of workforce, training and education on the delivery of the 10YHP, including challenges and opportunities. Time for table discussions and opportunity to pose questions to our panel.

    • Rebecca Smith, Director of System and Social Partnership, NHS Employers
    • Phil Carver, Regional Director of Workforce, Training and Education, NHS England East of England
    • John Drew, Regional Director of Workforce, Training and Education, NHS England Midlands

  • Connect with colleagues over lunch.

Afternoon sessions

  • Hear best practice examples from inside and outside the region. Delegates can choose from one of the following: 

    • From analogue to digital

    Colleagues from the Suffolk and North East Essex patch will share how they are collaborating to implement digitisation in partnership with staff side to improve recruitment. 

    • North West wellbeing and attendance policy

    The North West patch will share how they have collaborated across trusts in partnership with staff side to transform their approach to attendance and support the holistic wellbeing of our NHS people.

    • Sharon Lord, Health and Wellbeing Lead, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
    • Ruth Barker, Assistant Director of People, Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
    • James Bull, Regional Organiser, UNISON

  • Time to take a break, grab some refreshments and network with colleagues.

  • How University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust are unlocking potential in their local communities and shaping the next generation of healthcare talent.

    • Karen Jameson, Head of Healthcare Careers & Development, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
    • Kate Read, Director of People and Organisational Development, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
    • Peter Cook, Associate Director of Innovation and Education, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

  • Reflections on the day, summarising key learnings and considering next steps.

    • Liz Cooke, Director of HR and Organisational Development, Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

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