Your role in an anchor system

NHS Trusts are cornerstones of their local communities, but not only because of the health services they provide. They are significant economic actors and have a strong social influence as well. Trusts are therefore anchor institutions to which both local prosperity and health is tied.  

This webinar will look at what it means to be an anchor institution, how to maximise impact, and how to build mutually beneficial relationships with other local bodies. In an new era of government focused on locally driven prosperity it is more important than ever that trusts understand not only their roles within this ecosystem, but the potential to create a virtuous cycle that improves peoples’ lives. 

This is the second part in a series being led by Michael Wood, head of Health Economic Partnerships. Michael advises NHS leaders nationally and locally on policy, strategy, partnerships and funding relating to the local economy, including in areas such as skills and workforce, estates, innovation, population health and finance. 

Speakers

• Simon Evans is Group Chief Strategy Officer at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust. He has worked in the health and care sector for over 20 years and has held a number of senior management positions. His roles have covered strategic and service-level planning, performance management, business development, transformation, and programme management. He holds a Masters Qualification in Business (MBA) from Aston Business School along with an Honours Degree in Business Studies.

  Immediately prior to joining the Trust, he worked for Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust, where he led on the transformation and planning agenda, working closely with GPs and primary care clinicians. He has also worked in corporate planning and scrutiny for a Local Authority and has led on a number of projects involving partnership working with primary, secondary and local government sectors.

  Simon also spent nearly eight years working in various locations across the UK as a senior manager for Marks & Spencer and IKEA. During this time, he helped develop the 10-year growth strategy for IKEA UK and was a store manager for M&S.

  He has a passion for organisational and personal development, he has a post-graduate diploma in Human Resource Development and is a Level 7 Executive Coach. He has lectured on Organisational Behaviour and Organisational Change for Staffordshire University, is a regular guest lecturer for the University of Wolverhampton and works with Aston Business School on a range of collaborative projects.

• Lizzie Smith: With over 20 years of experience of NHS management, Lizzie Smith was appointed as Director for WT&E in London in April 2024.  Prior to the NHS England organisational merger in 2023, Lizzie led the Health Education England (HEE) team for the London region. In her current role, she is responsible for leading all aspects of workforce, training and education activity across NHSE London, supporting workforce supply and transformation across all health and care settings. Prior to the establishment of HEE, Lizzie worked in the People and Organisational Development function for the NHS London Strategic Health Authority.  
  
  Additionally, Lizzie is the senior responsible officer of the NHS London Anchors programme, a role aligned with her passion to support the NHS in realising its wider value and role in reducing health inequalities, as well as supporting local communities and economies thrive across the capital.  

Health Economic Partnerships

You will be automatically signed up to the full series of webinars, but you can of course choose which you would like to attend according to your interests or the needs of your organisation.

The series:

• ‘Putting health at the heart of your local economy’ - Wednesday 26 February 2025, 2-3:30pm (90 mins)  
• ‘Your role in an anchor system’ - Wednesday 26 March 2025, 2-3pm (60 mins)
• ‘Reimagining how we work with our universities, colleges and schools’ - Wednesday 23 April 2025, 2-3pm (60 mins) 
• ‘What devolution means for the NHS’ - Wednesday 4 June 2025, 2-3pm (60 mins)
• ‘Embedding health on the high street’ - Wednesday 25 June 2025, 2-3pm (60 mins) 
• ‘Quantifying the economic impact of the NHS and maximising our social value’ - Wednesday 23 July 2025, 2-3pm (60 mins)

For NHS Confederation members, all 6 webinars are free to attend. For non-members, you are welcome to join the first three sessions, with the last three being member-only. If you would like more information on becoming a member of the NHS Confederation please contact us here or reach out to our Acute Network director Rory Deighton for an informal conversation.

Audience

The sessions are primarily open to those at director level and above, including non-executive directors, and particularly chairs and chief executives. 

We are happy to be flexible on wider participation if the session fits closely with your work area.