Leading corporate services provider NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) is delighted to announce that an innovative and scalable solution developed in partnership with Norfolk and Waveney Procurement Collaboration, has been named winner of the ‘‘Improving Back Office Services Through Digital’ category at the prestigious HSJ Digital Awards 2025.
- Innovative and scalable solution establishes a new national benchmark for procurement and finance services within healthcare
- First ever NHS contract for delivery of consolidated corporate services over an ICS’s full footprint
- Redefines procurement and finance standards in healthcare, sets a benchmark for future NHS operations
The awards celebrate outstanding contributions to transforming healthcare through innovation and digital excellence.
The recognition comes for NHS SBS’s programme, delivered in partnership with Norfolk and Waveney Procurement Collaboration – on the design, deployment, and successful delivery of an Enhanced Purchase to Pay (EP2P) solution across all five provider trusts in the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System (ICS).
This first-of-its-kind initiative saw the launch of a single, integrated finance and transactional procurement service, marking it the first NHS contract to deliver consolidated corporate services across an entire ICS footprint.
The innovative solution establishes a new national benchmark for procurement and finance services within healthcare.
Key achievements of the programme include:
- Seamless integration across five NHS trusts within Norfolk and Waveney ICS
- Unified catalogues, inventory, and materials management creating consistent processes
- A regional platform for supply chain excellence
- Estimated savings of £3.9 million
- Enhanced experience for staff through streamlined operations
The EP2P solution’s innovation, scalability, and impact were praised by a panel of expert judges from across the health and digital sectors, recognising it as a pivotal step toward modernising NHS operations.
Commenting on the solution, Steve Worley, Head of Procurement at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust said:
“For me, the most important thing is that this was done with us, not to us. We were able to make sure that the EP2P system works just as well for community and mental health as it does for acute trusts, which made the whole experience hugely positive
“The new EP2P system has improved not just my life, but that of my front-line colleagues. I’m able to do things like easily keep track of call-off orders. They are able to save time by ordering consumables quickly and simply. Plus there are the benefits of better stock visibility.”
James Thirkhill, Director of Business Development, NHS SBS commented:
“This award is a testament to the power of collaboration and the ambition to redefine what’s possible in NHS digital services.
“We’re incredibly proud to see our work supporting a more efficient, integrated, and forward-looking healthcare system.
“This national recognition underlines NHS SBS’s role as a digital pioneer within the NHS and reinforces the value of combining technology, teamwork, and visionary thinking to deliver meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery.”
