Helen Hughes

Director – Education Lead.

Helen Hughes is the Director – Education Lead at Lincolnshire Training Hub, where she oversees the design, delivery, and strategic alignment of education and workforce programmes across Lincolnshire’s primary care and wider health and care system. Her work supports the full workforce pipeline, from early engagement to advanced clinical development.

Helen leads on multiple flagship programmes, including the Care Compass – Excellence Pathway Skills Bootcamp, which supports entry into general practice, social care, and dental roles through a blend of clinical and employability training. She has also expanded the Training Hub’s insight placement model, delivering placements to over 300 nursing, pharmacy, and paramedic students annually.

Helen plays a key role in workforce innovation and widening participation. She supports the roll-out of NHS work experience programmes and leads structured outreach to underserved communities to ensure equitable access to careers in health and care.

At a regional level, Helen heads the Midlands-wide General Practice Assistant (GPA) Programme, which enrolled over 90 new GPAs in 2024/25. This work includes apprenticeship coordination, clinical skills training, and standardisation of the GPA role to strengthen capacity in general practice.

She represents the Training Hub across several national and regional platforms, including the East Midlands Hub Network, Midlands Skills Bootcamp Group, and educator workforce development forums. Her leadership ensures all activity is aligned with the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and ICB priorities.

‘ I am excited to lead programmes that create real impact — opening up career opportunities, supporting workforce resilience, and helping shape a health and care system that reflects and serves its local communities.’