NES is a collaborative, innovative and inclusive learning organisation that provides high quality education, training, workforce development, workforce data and technology for Scotland’s health and social care workforce.
Our main responsibility is to develop and deliver education and training for the NHS in Scotland and we play a similarly important role in relation to social care and social work. This includes undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing professional development. We extend our offer and reach to support other public bodies through activities such as the National Trauma Training Programme. We seek to explore new models of education and training, in collaboration with partners, across health and social care disciplines. We also support acceleration of skills development in areas key to service transformation including leadership, digital and data.
The work we do affects everyone who works in and with health and social care services, as well as every person in every community in Scotland.
We design and deliver education, ensure quality and standards, and use technology to enable staff to be skilled, confident, and motivated to provide better outcomes.
We are focused on preparing and shaping the workforce for the future and the changes in health and social care necessary to improve outcomes.
We work with the Scottish Government, local government, NHS, Health and Social Care Partnerships, social care providers, academia, regulators, and other strategic partners to create new roles and services and develop new and exciting career pathways for future generations.
We have 10 non-executive members of our Board and 4 executive members The functions of our Board are
setting the direction, clarifying priorities and defining expectations
holding the executive to account and seeking assurance that the organisation is being effectively managed
managing risks to the quality, delivery and sustainability of services
engaging with stakeholders and influencing the Board’s and the organisation’s culture.

David Garbutt Chair

Karen Reid Chief Executive

Why NES is supporting Boardroom Apprentice

We are aiming to increase the diversity of the NES Board membership including representation from younger voices. The NES Board has a very robust and exemplar corporate governance approach in place, excellent Board member induction materials and processes and therefore will be ideally placed to offer a positive experience for a Board Room Apprentice. In addition, as a major education and training provider across the NHS and Social Care in Scotland, we have a commitment to education and training and people development, as it is the very essence of what we do as a Board. The aspiration to progress the Boardroom Apprenticeship is linked to the wider NHS in Scotland strategic context of a need to improve the diversity at the NHS Board table across all Scottish Boards and encourage applications from a range of different people than has traditionally been seen.
We have a very experienced non-executive membership on our Board from whom we can select a mentor/buddy and also a highly experience Board Secretary who is also available to provide support.

Location of Board and Committee Meetings

Edinburgh in person and over Microsoft TEAMS (hybrid)

Frequency and timing of board/committee meetings

There are 6 Public Board meetings a year from 10.15-12.45
Each Committee meets 4 times a year usually from 10.15-12.45

Date of Board Meetings (January – December 2025)

06/02/25
27/03/25
22/05/25
21/08/25
25/09/25
20/11/25

Committee of the Boards and meeting dates (January - December 2025)

Audit and Risk Committee 16/04/25
24/04/25
12/06/25
02/10/25
Staff Governance Committee 20/02/25
10/05/25
13/0825
06/11/25
Education and Quality Committee 06/03/25
08/05/25
11/09/25
04/12/25
Planning and Performance Committee 12/05/25
11/08/25
10/11/25

Security checks

No

Payment of travel expenses

No