Empowering women in procurement: Highlights from the HCSA Women’s Network 2024 conference

The HCSA Women’s Network celebrates women in procurement and supply chain roles across the NHS. The 2024 Conference was an opportunity to support women across the healthcare sector in achieving their ambitions, overcoming barriers and striving for balance and equity.

Acacium Group’s values of putting people first, delivering by excellence and always by your side closely align with the goals of the HCSA Women’s Network. As a corporate sponsor, we are committed to fostering fairness, inclusion and respect, striving to make a positive impact on the lives of our people, our partners and the communities they serve.

With more than 100 NHS procurement leaders and partners in attendance, the event provided an engaging and authentic atmosphere that facilitated supportive and empowering relationships with female colleagues and male allies throughout the health system.

Inspiration and empowerment

Dr. Sam Collins, a leading global voice on leadership and equality, delivered the keynote speech at the conference. She led an interactive session that focused on inspiration and empowerment, highlighting the importance of embracing vulnerability and practising self-care. Dr. Collins encouraged attendees to seek personal and professional growth by being inspired and supporting one another.

“Dr. Sam’s keynote captivated the entire room, hanging on every word for the full 2.5 hours. Her emphasis on how you can’t be inspiring to others when you’re not inspired resonated deeply with me. The self-reflection exercise, where we explored our strengths and potential, was particularly impactful and will provide me value in my personal and professional life.”

Shannon Dudley, Strategic Workforce Solutions Director, Acacium Group

Authentic Conversations

Another significant focus of the event was on having difficult yet authentic conversations. These discussions underscored the importance of being open and honest, even when conversations are challenging, to build trust and authenticity in professional relationships.

Personal Development and Support

Personal development and support networks were central themes of the event. One key takeaway was that resilience is not an innate trait but a skill that can be developed over time. Participants were encouraged to view challenges as growth opportunities and approach obstacles with a problem-solving mindset. The role of self-care in building resilience was also highlighted, stressing that taking care of one’s mental and physical health is crucial for sustaining determination.

“As proud sponsors of the HCSA Women’s Network event, Acacium Group is committed to supporting and empowering women in procurement and supply chain. This event provides us with invaluable opportunities to connect and support our NHS colleagues. The themes of personal development, authenticity, and resilience are key to building sustainable healthcare systems and we were honoured to be part of such a transformative experience.”

Scott Siwicki, Director of Workforce Solutions, Acacium Group

You can learn more about the HCSA Women’s Network and upcoming events sponsored by Acacium Group here.