University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) has been shortlisted for Health Tech Case Study of the Year at the HTN Now Awards 2025/26, with FirstLight recognised for its role in addressing NHS digital skills shortages.

Building Sustainable Digital Capability from the Local Workforce

FirstLight was conceived by St Vincent’s Consulting as a response to the growing challenge of building sustainable digital capability within NHS organisations. The concept was developed collaboratively with UHL, who agreed to act as the first pilot site, embedding the approach within their own workforce and organisational context.

A Partnership-Led Model Designed for Real NHS Environments

Working closely with UHL, St Vincent’s Consulting designed the overall model and delivery approach, bringing together local recruitment, an intensive bootcamp and a structured 18-month apprenticeship pathway. Purple Beard joined the programme as the training partner, co-designing and delivering the learning framework to support apprentices through their development.

Reducing Reliance on Contingent Resource Through Long-Term Skills Development

The programme focuses on recruiting candidates from the local labour market and supporting them through blended on-site and virtual learning. Apprentices rotate through core digital disciplines including project support, business analysis, configuration, testing, data and reporting, and integration. On completion, participants transition into substantive EPR roles within UHL.

As part of the pilot, apprentices were trained in a live NHS environment using the Nervecentre system in operation at UHL, ensuring learning was grounded in real clinical workflows and operational practice.

Early outcomes from FirstLight demonstrate the value of a locally rooted, partnership-led approach to workforce development — helping to reduce reliance on contingent resource while building long-term digital capability within the NHS. The model has been designed to be scalable and transferable, supporting other NHS organisations facing similar workforce challenges.

The HTN Now Awards celebrate innovation and best practice across health and care technology, with winners announced during a digital awards ceremony on 27 January 2026.

Find out more about the HTN Now Awards:
https://htn.co.uk/htn-now-awards-2025-26-health-tech-case-study-of-the-year/

For more information on FirstLight:
https://stvconsulting.uk/what-we-do/firstlight-epr-academy-programme