Cutting agency costs with advanced supply chain management across NCL
Faced with rising agency costs and strict NHS England spending targets, five North Central London NHS Trusts partnered with Acacium Group to transform their workforce strategy with a clinically-led, supply chain-driven approach.
Highlights
- Saved £4.9 million across five NHS Trusts
- 43% of agency demand filled by Tier 0 partners in FY 24/25
- Removed over 5,900 shifts from agency usage in one year
- Achieved an average cost reduction of £78.54 per shift
- Helped Trusts stay below NHS England’s agency cap
The challenge
In response to strict agency spending targets mandated by NHS England, five NHS Trusts across North Central London faced mounting pressure to reduce reliance on costly, non-compliant agency staffing. Trusts needed to maintain safe staffing levels while improving workforce efficiency and aligning with national framework goals
Why Acacium Group
Acacium Group was selected to help implement a sustainable, bank-first staffing model due to a proven ability to deliver workforce transformation at scale. With deep expertise in supply chain optimisation and a clinically-led approach, the Group offered a robust Tier 0 model that prioritised preferential partner rates and collaborative delivery. This model provided the Trusts with a compliant, cost-effective alternative to traditional agency usage, while supporting long-term workforce stability.
The solution
To meet the challenge, Acacium Group implemented a comprehensive supply chain strategy across the five participating Trusts. The approach focused on six key areas designed to streamline operations and drive down costs.
First, the Group restructured supply chain management by leveraging preferential rate partners, ensuring that agency demand was met through compliant and cost-effective channels. Agency staff were transitioned to bank roles, improving workforce stability and reducing long-term costs.
Bespoke projects were introduced to mitigate risk, particularly in hard-to-fill roles, while off-framework agency usage was eliminated to ensure full compliance with NHS guidelines. Best-practice behaviours were embedded across the workforce to enhance service quality, and a full review of service demands was conducted to better align staffing resources with actual operational needs.
To support this strategy, Acacium Group introduced a tiered supplier model:
- Tier 0: Acacium Group partner rates
- Tier 1: Priority group partners (PSL)
- Tier 2: All market suppliers
Local and collaborative banks were also utilised to maximise internal capacity and reduce external reliance.
“Our partnership with Acacium Group has revolutionised our agency management amidst significant cost and care quality challenges. Working together, our Tier 0 model, expertise, and their support have remarkably boosted workforce efficiency. The substantial reduction in agency spending and access to additional services allow us to prioritise enhancing patient services and investing in our staff.”
– Natalie Nightingale, Head of the NCL Temporary Staffing Framework
Impact
Significant cost savings
Over a two-year period, from June 2023 to June 2025, Acacium Group’s advanced supply chain model helped five North Central London NHS Trusts save a combined £4.9 million in agency staffing costs. This substantial reduction enabled Trusts to reinvest in patient services and internal workforce development, easing financial pressures while maintaining high standards of care.
Reducing agency reliance
In the 2024/25 financial year alone, 43% of all agency demand was successfully filled by Tier 0 partners, trusted suppliers offering preferential rates through Acacium Group’s streamlined model. This shift away from traditional agency usage resulted in over 5,900 shifts being removed from external agency reliance, significantly improving workforce stability and continuity of care.
Driving efficiency
The programme delivered an average cost reduction of £78.54 per shift, contributing to meaningful budget relief across the participating Trusts. These savings were achieved without compromising quality, thanks to improved governance, better cascade management and a clinically-led approach to workforce planning.
Meeting national targets
All five Trusts successfully achieved spend below NHS England’s mandated agency cap for the 2024/25 financial year. This milestone reflects the effectiveness of Acacium Group’s model in aligning local workforce strategies with national objectives, while safeguarding patient outcomes and operational resilience.
Reduce costs and improve care quality
Whether you’re looking to reduce agency reliance, improve governance or build a more resilient workforce, our proven solutions are designed to help you deliver measurable results. Get in touch to work towards a more efficient, compliant and patient-focused staffing strategy.
