Claire’s Career Journey
Posted on 9th February 2026
Claire’s career in the NHS spans more than two decades, built on her commitment to improving staff experience and widening access to development opportunities. From her earliest roles to her current position as Group Chief People Officer, one of the threads running through her journey is her belief in the power of apprenticeships to transform careers, create opportunity, and support long-term workforce development.
Claire’s journey began in 2004 when she took on the Employability Advisor role at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG), before progressing through a series of increasingly senior roles that gave her wide-ranging experience across operational HR, recruitment, culture change, and organisational development.
A defining period in Claire’s personal and professional development came when NLAG’s apprenticeship scheme provided her with the opportunity to enrol in and complete her part-time Executive MBA through Sheffield Hallam University. Previously Claire completed her Degree in Business Management at Leeds Beckett University also through an apprenticeship route whilst working full time.
Completing a demanding postgraduate qualification alongside a senior leadership role gave her first-hand insight into the realities and benefits of work-based learning. Her apprenticeship experience furthered her belief that development opportunities should be accessible to everyone in the NHS. It also reinforced her commitment to building a culture of lifelong learning across the NHS workforce, where staff feel supported and encouraged to progress.
Claire brought this passion with her when she joined United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in December 2021 as Deputy Director of People, and later stepped into the Director of People role. When she became Group Chief People Officer in 2024, her vision expanded across the wider Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group, where she continued to drive cultural improvement and workforce transformation across the Group. She has continued to advocate for apprenticeships at all levels, from entry routes into the NHS to leadership development programmes designed to grow future talent.
Throughout her career, Claire has remained driven by the belief that the NHS is strongest when its people are supported to learn and grow. Her leadership is grounded in compassion, inclusion, and creating environments where staff feel valued and able to reach their potential. Her Chartered Fellowship with the CIPD reflects her professional standing, as well as her personal commitment to continuous learning; something she encourages across all staff groups.
Today, as Group Chief People Officer, Claire continues to shape a People Directorate that places development at its heart. Her own apprenticeship journey stands as a powerful example of how learning can change a career, and her leadership is helping build a future where every colleague has access to opportunities that can change theirs, too.
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