25 November 2025

One NHS Finance has won the ‘Workforce Initiative of the Year’ award at the recent HSJ Awards for the NHS Finance Insights Placement Scheme.

The scheme, led by CNWL’s Chief Financial Officer Tom Shearer, had the idea for a few years before pursuing it in 2021/2022. “I was toying with the idea for a few years, ans then in about 2021/2022 I just went for it. We gained loads of support along the way, and One NHS Finance supported with programme support.”

The placement scheme is targeted at individuals aged 18 and above in full-time education who are not aiming to go to university and come from a lower socio-economic background. The placement is a year long in an entry-level finance role and upon completion, candidates will have the necessary skills to apply for apprenticeships and other entry-level roles within finance.

Some more details of the placement:

  • 12 months of on-the-job, full-time experience in an entry-level finance role
  • Experience working in an office, with hybrid and flexible working patterns
  • Rotations through different departments within finance to gain exposure to various areas and projects
  • Opportunities to work with a wide range of diverse and talented people across the NHS
  • Insight into how the NHS operates as a business and how finance teams support services delivered to patients in local communities
  • Training and development throughout the 12 months
  • Attendance at online and in-person events
  • The chance to meet and network with your peers on the placement scheme across the country

Having started as a pilot with five young people in 2023, 60 more people in the last two years have either begun or successfully completed placements (37 completed in 2024, 23 begun in 2025). The scheme has seen so many positive outcomes since its inception.

One example of this is the nomination of Ayesha Alam for the ‘Rising Star’ award at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) Awards 2025. Having left school in 2023, Ayesha secured a place on the scheme and is now studying towards her Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification (having already completed seven exams), and managing key financial responsibilities that once sat with more senior colleagues. Outside her day-to-day role, Ayesha also chairs the Finance Department Connect Forum, bringing together junior staff and students to share ideas, support one another and suggest improvements to the department.

Well done to Tom and all involved in the scheme. For more information on the scheme, read here.