Background & Client Overview
NHS Providers, a leading membership organisation representing NHS hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services, appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Workplace Change Manager during a significant period of organisational transformation.
The organisation was preparing to relocate its London office while redefining how and where its employees worked following the pandemic. This involved much more than a physical move. NHS Providers needed to create a workplace environment and new ways of working that supported its people, maintained operational effectiveness and reflected the organisation's evolving requirements.
The successful candidate therefore needed to combine workplace strategy, change management, relocation experience, stakeholder engagement and strong communication skills, acting as an internal consultant throughout the transformation.
The Challenge
The Workplace Change Manager would play a central role in helping NHS Providers transition successfully into a new working environment.
The challenge was to identify a professional capable of managing both the practical requirements of an office relocation and the people-focused aspects of organisational change.
Key requirements included:
Workplace Transformation
Supporting the development and implementation of new workplace arrangements that reflected NHS Providers' changing operational needs.
Office Relocation
Managing the transition to a new London office while coordinating the various activities required to minimise disruption to day-to-day operations.
Change Management
Helping employees understand, prepare for and adapt to new working practices, ensuring change was introduced in a structured and supportive way.
Internal Consultancy
Acting as a trusted internal adviser, providing guidance to leadership teams and colleagues throughout the workplace transformation programme.
Stakeholder Engagement
Engaging employees and other key stakeholders to understand their requirements, address concerns and ensure workplace decisions reflected the needs of building users.
Communication & Engagement
Developing clear communication around the relocation and new working arrangements to help employees understand what was changing and why.
User-Centred Workplace Planning
Ensuring the new workplace was designed and implemented with the practical needs and experience of employees at its centre.
Operational Continuity
Managing the transformation carefully to minimise disruption and enable NHS Providers to maintain effective operations throughout the transition.
Our Recruitment Approach
Maxwell Stephens conducted a targeted search for Workplace, Facilities and Change Management professionals with experience delivering office relocations and transformational workplace programmes.
The nature of the position meant that technical expertise alone was not enough. NHS Providers required someone with the interpersonal skills to bring employees and stakeholders through a significant period of change.
Our assessment focused on candidates with experience in:
- workplace transformation
- office relocations
- organisational change
- stakeholder consultation
- employee engagement
- workplace strategy
- project delivery
- communication planning
- user-focused workplace design
- post-pandemic working environments
Particular emphasis was placed on communication, empathy, influencing skills and the ability to build trust, alongside proven delivery capability.
Through targeted outreach, our specialist network and detailed candidate assessment, Maxwell Stephens identified professionals who combined the required technical knowledge with the softer skills essential for successful workplace change.
Following a rigorous selection process, we successfully placed an experienced Workplace Change Manager with NHS Providers.
Outcome & Impact
The successful candidate quickly became an integral part of the NHS Providers team and provided the dedicated leadership required to progress the workplace transformation.
Successful Office Relocation
The Workplace Change Manager coordinated the move to the new office, helping ensure the transition was carefully planned and delivered with minimal disruption to normal operations.
Effective Implementation of New Ways of Working
The candidate supported the introduction of new working conditions and workplace practices designed for NHS Providers' evolving post-pandemic environment.
Stronger Employee Engagement
By maintaining a clear focus on the needs of building users, the Workplace Change Manager helped ensure employees remained engaged throughout the transformation process.
Improved Stakeholder Coordination
Close collaboration with internal teams and key stakeholders helped align workplace decisions with organisational priorities and user requirements.
Reduced Operational Disruption
Structured planning and proactive management enabled NHS Providers to maintain operational continuity while relocating and introducing new workplace arrangements.
Positive Workplace Experience
The candidate's user-centred approach helped create a smoother transition into the new environment and contributed to strong satisfaction among building users.
Outcome
The successful placement gave NHS Providers a Workplace Change Manager capable of combining workplace transformation, office relocation, organisational change and stakeholder engagement during a significant period of transition.
The appointment helped NHS Providers move into its new workplace while implementing new ways of working with minimal disruption and a clear focus on the experience of its people.
The assignment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens' ability to recruit specialist Workplace professionals for complex transformation programmes, where successful delivery depends not only on project-management expertise but also on communication, engagement and an understanding of how people experience change.
Planning an office relocation or major workplace transformation? Contact Maxwell Stephens to discuss your Workplace and Facilities Management recruitment requirements.