Introduction: A New Way Forward for Talent Development
Whether you are early in your career, moving into leadership, or decades into service, Talent Timebanking is for you.
Across health and social care, our workforce is navigating some of the toughest challenges we have ever seen. With workforce shortages and tightening budgets, traditional development pathways are harder to access.
At the same time, staff at every level are telling us the same thing:
- They want connection, development, and support.
- They want recognition for the skills they have and opportunities to develop the ones they need.
But the reality is that development is often shaped by budgets, geography, and capacity. For many, opportunities feel out of reach.
Talent Timebanking was created in response to these challenges. It offers a new, inclusive way for staff to give and receive support, not because of job titles or organisational boundaries, but because everyone has something to offer and something to gain. It is built entirely on the skills, generosity and lived experiences of our workforce.
It is also important to acknowledge how the national expansion of Talent Timebanking has been achieved with two very dedicated people leading the work nationally, alongside the invaluable contributions of the Talent Timebanking Senate and the seven regional representatives. The model has grown not through significant investment, but through goodwill, dedication and the collective commitment of colleagues across regions and from our member community, who give their time freely to support one another.
This case study shares the journey so far, the impact we are seeing, and how Talent Timebanking is strengthening community, connection and shared development across health and social care.
Where It All Began: Listening During Covid
The concept for Talent Timebanking was born during the Covid-19 pandemic. It emerged from something very simple: listening.
During this time, staff spoke openly about the inequities they were experiencing, in access to development, to networks, to mentoring and to visibility. Their stories echoed through the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES), Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES), the NHS Staff Survey, staff networks and direct lived accounts.
These insights painted a clear picture:
- Not everyone was getting the same access to development.
- Many felt disconnected from opportunities and from each other.
- Confidence, visibility and “knowing the right people” played too large a role in career progression.
- And many wanted to contribute more but lacked a way to share their knowledge and expertise.
It was clear that we didn’t just need another programme. We needed a new approach, something more human, more reciprocal and more inclusive.
This is where the early spark of Talent Timebanking was born: not from theory, but from real people, real stories and real needs. And from the very beginning, the work to respond to these insights was carried almost entirely by a small but deeply committed team, often carving out just a few hours a week to help bring the concept to life.
From Insights to Innovation: Designing the Mode
In 2022, we tested a simple but ambitious idea:
Could a peer-to-peer reciprocal approach to development work inside the NHS?
We began with a small proof-of-concept, co-designed with regional colleagues, staff networks and communities of practice. Very quickly, the response made the answer clear:
- People were eager to share their skills.
- They were enthusiastic about supporting one another.
- And there was a noticeable appetite for development that felt accessible, human and reciprocal.
Those early exchanges gave us the confidence to build further, strengthening functionality, developing reporting and insight capabilities, and shaping a national hub-and-regional-spoke approach that would allow the model to scale consistently across England.
National Launch: A New Chapter
In April 2025, Talent Timebanking grew from a simple idea tested in one region into a national platform, rolled out across all seven regions in England.
In addition to the dedicated national team of two, the Talent Timebanking Senate and the seven regional representatives have supported the national rollout by offering local insights, advocacy and support for regional adoption and engagement. Their involvement reflects the strong appetite across the system to embed a new, equitable model of development.
It is also remarkable to note that this national rollout has been achieved with very limited capacity, with regional colleagues absorbing onboarding and engagement within just a few hours to half a day per week. This speaks not only to the simplicity of the model but to the commitment behind it.
Today, over 800 members from across health and social care have joined the platform, offering and requesting support in areas such as:
- Career and leadership development
- Digital and data skills
- Project and programme advice
- Coaching and mentoring
- Shadowing and exposure opportunities
- Practical problem-solving and knowledge sharing
The model is simple: Give an hour. Earn a credit. Use it when you need support.
Every exchange, big or small, contributes to a growing ecosystem of trust, connection and capability.
Talent Timebanking isn’t just a platform, it’s a community for development, collaboration and belonging.
The Impact and What Comes Next
Although we are still in the early stages, the impact of Talent Timebanking has already been recognised nationally, including receiving High Commendation at the 2025 HPMA Awards for the Capsticks Award for Innovation.
But the most powerful feedback comes from our members:
“This platform allowed us to connect, have insightful conversations and experience those light-bulb moments.”
Tina Oxland
“Interacting with Jo through Talent Timebanking was a transformative experience, her advice was instrumental in securing my new role.”
Elvis Amadi
“Talent Timebanking is a simple, effective way to exchange skills… I’ve been able to support others with my expertise with minimal time commitment.”
Deborah Hammond
These stories reflect what Talent Timebanking is all about: development that is fast, accessible, supportive and built on reciprocity.
Our long-term vision is bold but simple: a fully self-sustaining talent ecosystem, powered not by budgets or hierarchy but by the skills, generosity and lived experiences of our workforce.
We believe that everyone has something to offer and everyone deserves the chance to grow. If you’re part of the health and social care workforce, we would love for you to join us:
- Share a skill.
- Ask for support.
- Connect with someone new.
- Encourage your colleagues to get involved.
Together, we are creating a culture of reciprocal development one hour, one conversation and one connection at a time.
Contact us: [email protected]