Health economic partnerships

Building partnerships to drive lasting improvements in public services for local communities.

As an anchor institution, the NHS has a significant role to play in developing local economies.

By aligning organisational and ICS strategies with local growth priorities, NHS organisations can open themselves up to exciting new partnerships and resources that can help achieve their aims.

We are the only national body directly helping the health sector to engage with their local economic leaders – building partnerships with which to drive lasting improvements in public services for our local communities.

Our Work and Health Network

Our network is designed to support the 10 Year Health Plan recommendation to establish outcome targets aimed at reducing economic inactivity in every ICB. It is being delivered in partnership with NHS England, DHSC and the Department for Work and Pensions.

While the programme is primarily intended for people working in ICBs who are leading work and health initiatives, the network is equally open to other people working in the wider work and health system, including NHS trusts, VCSEs, primary care and local government.

We will be meeting monthly between November 2025 and at least March 2026. Sign-up to join the sessions which are open to all.

Our six-part webinar series

Webinar

Watch: Putting health at the heart of your local economy

This webinar, the first in a new series, looked at the local growth agenda, the role of acute trusts, and how they can influence local leaders.

26 February 2025 14:00 - 15:30 GMT

Webinar

Watch: Your role in an anchor system

This webinar, the second in a new series, looked at what it really means to be an anchor institution and how to practically maximise impact.

26 March 2025 14:00 - 15:00 GMT

Webinar

Watch: Reimagining working with universities, colleges and schools

This webinar, the third in a new series, looks at how NHS trusts can successfully work with educational institutions.

23 April 2025 14:00 - 15:00 GMT

Bird's eye view of the Houses of Parliament.

Webinar

Watch: Devolution and what it means for the NHS

This webinar, the fourth in a series, unpacked the devolution revolution, including what role NHS trusts play in the new combined authority landscape.

4 June 2025 14:00 - 15:00 GMT

Webinar

Watch: Embedding health on the high street

This webinar, the fifth in our series, discussed practical approaches to moving health onto the high street, as well as the wider policy context.

25 June 2025 14:00 - 15:00 GMT

A screen with graphs, and a calculator on a desk.

Webinar

Watch: Quantifying the economic and social impact of the NHS

This webinar, the last in our series, discussed the challenge and need to articulate the economic and social value generated by NHS trusts.

23 July 2025 14:00 - 15:00 GMT

View all events

Our head of health economic partnerships, Michael Wood, is leading this programme, working at both national and local level.
At a national level, he is working with government and public, private and third sector representative bodies to demonstrate and champion the NHS’s role in bringing greater regional economic prosperity and to influence future policy.
Locally, he has directly supported individual NHS organisations ICSs to link with their local economic leaders to understand, develop and build a common agenda, potentially bringing significant external revenues and benefits in local service design and delivery.
Our plans for 2025 consist of our six-part webinar series and a range of other work to provide more intensive bespoke support for members.
Better understanding of the local growth agenda can bring the NHS several benefits, including:
- access to significant external funding sources
- greater influence in strategic local discussions
- tailored workforce supply and transformation planning
- more integrated service provision
- quicker access to innovative healthcare solutions.
To discuss how to reach out to your local partners, please email Michael.wood@nhsconfed.org