Press Release
Grant Thornton advises NHS Business Services Authority on major contract award to deliver a new, transformative NHS workforce management solution
14 Oct 2025
Grant Thornton UK has advised the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) on the award of a £1.2 billion contract to Infosys to deliver a new and enhanced workforce management solution for the NHS.
The solution will support NHS organisations and their employees by providing a complete employment lifecycle platform, generating significant benefits for the NHS over the 15-year contract duration. It will support everything from recruitment and onboarding to career development, workforce management, payroll and retirement.
The Future NHS Workforce Solution will succeed the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and continue to pay 1.9 million NHS employees, which is 5% of the UK workforce, over £55 billion in payroll each year.
Grant Thornton acted as Financial and Economic Advisors to the NHSBSA throughout the procurement.
Will McWilliams, Head of UK Consulting and Lead Advisor to the NHSBSA, said:
“We are delighted to have supported the NHSBSA achieve this milestone. The new solution will support delivery of real transformational change for the benefit of those at the very heart of the NHS – its employees. It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside the NHSBSA on this important national programme.”
The contract award demonstrates the government's commitment to investing in NHS infrastructure and supporting healthcare workers with the tools they need to free up time to continue delivering excellent patient care.
NHSBSA Chief Executive Michael Brodie said:
“Delivering the Future NHS Workforce Solution is a critical step in supporting the NHS workforce ambitions and commitments in the 10-Year Health Plan to create an NHS fit for the future.
“The future solution will go far beyond replacing ESR - it provides an opportunity for the NHS to save significant amounts of money, which can be put back into patient care to help people live longer, healthier lives.
“Working with Infosys, we’re creating a modern, data-driven solution that will help the NHS better attract, retain and support its people.
“This is about delivering lasting change for the NHS workforce and the communities we serve.”
Implementation is expected to be completed by 2030. It is not just about rolling out a new digital system with improved technology, it will offer the NHS a transformational opportunity to standardise ways of working and create an improved, more consistent and user-friendly experience as colleagues move throughout their careers within the NHS.
Using the latest technology and artificial intelligence, the future solution will allow employees to connect more easily with other digital systems and will empower them to manage their personal information more efficiently. It will also give the NHS improved data about its workforce so managers can make better planning decisions, which will drive cost reduction and enable productivity improvements.
