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Healthy NHS SBS
Our achievements reflect our ongoing journey toward a more sustainable and socially responsible future.
In 2024, we proudly celebrated the significant strides made across our sustainability and social value programme.
Our work, guided by the newly launched NHS SBS Social Value Policy and Green Plan, aligns with wider NHS Net Zero targets and supports the wider community through environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Volunteering and Community Support
In 2024, NHS SBS employees contributed over 6,800 hours of volunteering, supporting more than 70 charities and raising £17.5k for various causes. All of our employees are gifted three paid volunteer days per year, allowing them to support causes they are passionate about.
Our volunteers have told us
99%
of volunteers enjoyed their experience.
34%
reported learning a new skill.
87%
felt they made a tangible impact on the organisation or beneficiaries.
In 2024, our chosen charities were:
- Cancer Research UK – £3,100 raised.
- Neuroblastoma UK – £2,227 raised.
- Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary – £1,712 raised.
- Many Tears Animal Rescue – £1,217 raised.
- The Miscarriage Association – £901 raised.
- Sheffield Hospitals Charity – £125 raised.
The charitable organisations we supported have told us
Partnerships for inclusivity
NHS SBS partnered with TeenTech and DFN Project Search to promote inclusivity, diversity, and provide valuable work experience for students and individuals with disabilities.
Student comments include:
“It’s given me new skills and experiences…” and “it’s sparked my interest in pursuing a career in tech.”
97% of teachers say:
“TeenTech develops teamwork, confidence, and an understanding of the breadth of STEM careers.
Supporting innovation with TeenTech
- We supported the innovation awards category for Patient Safety, empowering students no matter what their background, to explore career opportunities, develop technical skills and build valuable networks.
- We are proud to be part of the community which is encouraging more people to engage with technology and science and are also looking to host innovation days at our offices for diverse groups of students.
Apprenticeships and future leaders
We participate in the NHS Procurement Graduate Scheme, offering rotations and CIPS Level 4 qualifications to future procurement leaders. Currently we have four graduates in the programme, two in their second year and two just beginning their journey with us.
Social Impact Champions
Representing a diverse, passionate, 18-strong group from across our business who meet bi-monthly to steer ideas forward and feed into our NHS SBS Board to implement changes and ideas.
1,000 trees planting days
Working in partnership with local authorities, landowners, businesses and communities, White Rose Forest is increasing woodland across the region and improving the natural environment. They’re planting millions of trees in urban centres and countryside that will help manage flood risk, mitigate the impact of climate change, create jobs and provide happier and healthier places for people to enjoy.
We’ve committed to support the project both financially and through volunteering by sponsoring four “1,000 trees planting days”.
Social Mobility Pledge
In 2024, we signed the Social Mobility Pledge striving to close opportunity gaps in 2025 through:
Outreach
Reaching out to schools or colleges to provide coaching and quality careers advice to people from less privileged backgrounds.
Access
Providing structured work experience and apprenticeship opportunities.
Recruitment
Adopting open employee recruitment tools and practices which promote equality of opportunity for people from less privileged backgrounds.
Progression
Working to make sure colleagues from less privileged backgrounds can progress fairly through our organisation.
Shaping futures with Springpod
We were excited to partner with Springpod in 2024 to deliver interactive, work-based learning experiences that empower students to demonstrate potential and take their future into their own hands by giving them equal access to opportunity.
Collaborating with 13 schools from two academy trusts across the Leeds and Wakefield areas our sponsorship provides students with equal access to virtual work experience and career insights, helping them to explore careers within purchasing, finance and tech in the healthcare sector.
Reducing our carbon footprint
Through our Green Plan launched in 2024, NHS SBS has achieved a 28% reduction in emissions, surpassing scope 1 and 2 net-zero targets. By focusing on energy efficiency, responsible sourcing, and waste management, we’re delivering lasting environmental impact.
Level 4 Evergreen Score
NHS Shared Business Services is pleased to have completed the NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment, a self-assessment and reporting tool that resulted in us receiving a Level 4: 2045 net zero targets, independently validated, across the global organisation. The information reported through Evergreen is supporting us to understand our alignment with NHS sustainability priorities.
Key goals of the Green Plan
Carbon emissions reduction
We’ve surpassed our 2023 emissions reduction target cutting our absolute emissions by 28%, double the planned 14%! Key focus areas include our supply chain, business travel, commuting and homeworking.
Energy efficiency
All our offices are ISO14001 certified! We have reduced our energy consumption by 5% from January to August 2024 compared to 2023 through initiatives like installing sensors to monitor usage at a granular level, upgrading old boilers to energy-efficient models and adding solar blinds.
Waste management
All offices are zero plastic waste! We minimise waste through recycling, responsible sourcing, and sustainable disposal practices.
DSA Connect
NHS SBS collaborated with DSA Connect to repurpose old IT equipment, providing job skills training for prison leavers. The partnership repurposes our old and unusable IT equipment to create workshops for soon-to-be prison leavers, providing them with valuable IT skills to support them to enter into the world of work and prevent re-offending.
Supporting NHS Net Zero with our carbon mapping tool
Through our Carbon Mapping Tool, we provide NHS organisations with the means to track and reduce their supply chain emissions. Our tool was piloted at Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust in 2023, setting a benchmark for scope 3.1 emissions and helping them reach their Green Plan goals. We’ve continued to support NHS organisations on their journey to net-zero through innovative data automation so we can give easy to understand outputs that lead to action for our customers.
DFN Project Search: Empowering inclusivity
Our partnership with DFN Project Search reflects our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace. In 2024, we proudly supported four learners with autism and learning disabilities, equipping them with valuable work experience, confidence-building opportunities and essential skills for their future careers. Our learners gained work experience and employability skills.
Twenty of our staff members participated in neurodiversity training, fostering greater awareness and understanding.
Enhanced employability
Four learners gained critical workplace skills boosting their prospects for future employment.
Personal development
Participants built confidence and communication, and presentation skills were improved.
Career success
One learner secured a full-time role at NHS SBS, another secured full-time employment outside of NHS SBS.
Understanding issues that matter – collaborating with Three Hands
The Outside In Project empowers businesses to engage with, understand and act upon the most important social and environmental issues. In partnership with Three Hands, we committed to 42 hours of training focused on four key social concerns
- Cost of Living Crisis 2024.
- Numeracy and Literacy.
- Inclusive AI.
- Neurodiversity.
This collaboration has deepened our understanding and strengthened our commitment to addressing these pressing issues.
Expanding social value
In 2025, we aim to increase the number of volunteer hours, expand partnerships with charities, and enhance our community engagement efforts.
We are also committed to advancing our support for individuals with disabilities through DFN Project Search.
Sustainability goals
Our future sustainability goals include:
- Achieving further reductions in carbon emissions across the NHS.
- Expanding the use of the Carbon Mapping Tool to more NHS Trusts.
- Promoting green procurement practices and sustainable resource management.
As we move forward, we remain dedicated to driving positive change, both within our organisation and the wider community, ensuring that sustainability and social value are at the heart of everything we do.
Explore our policies