The ‘Get to Know’ series showcases staff from around the NHS Workforce Alliance to give you a glimpse of the variety of roles in our organisation and the people who perform them.
This month, we’re pleased to introduce Tom Harvell, Category Manager – in the workforce team at NHS London Procurement Partnership.
What is your background?
Before I started out in the healthcare marketplace, I was a chef where I worked across several establishments over my time, from small rustic bistro pubs and sushi restaurants to popular food chains such as Pizza Express and Nando’s. My passion was baking and pastry making where I had the privilege of working in various hotels as a summer job when I was studying.
I lost my passion for cooking whilst studying but wanted to give the television industry a go and therefore started studying Creative Media in college. During my studies I had worked with the BBC, Elstree Studios and local shopping centres with creating documentaries, music videos, short horror films and spoofs – some of which are still on YouTube to this day (I will not share the link).
I landed myself a corporate job when choosing universities where I started working for several NHS trusts as a Recruitment Consultant / Bookings Coordinator. Fast forward three years, I got a promotion to start managing a team of consultants and found real enjoyment from knowing that what I was doing and what the company was trying to achieve was to help people out who were unwell or needed care.
I have been able to work in several organisations since my first corporate role where I have met some fantastic people, shared tears of patient’s stories and helped the NHS save money on their temporary labour usage.
What is your role within the NHS Workforce Alliance and what does it involve?
I am working as a Category Manager for NHS London Procurement Partnership focusing on supporting trusts with reducing their temporary labour spend through various forms of engagement such as sharing best practices, challenging in a constructive way and providing solutions to their problems.
Why are you passionate about this?
For me, it’s an easy answer – to add value to an amazing organisation where I can make a difference and where there will be savings opportunities available for reinvestment back into patient care.
What is the greatest challenge you face at work?
The biggest challenge that I face in my current role is getting engagement from stakeholders to share their data with us. Although we are working with our NHS colleagues, there is resistance to sharing what the picture actually is.
What was your first job and how has it impacted your career?
My first job was a paper round whilst going through GCSEs. This was not a long-term plan but it did highlight that not all jobs are nice and comfortable. Some jobs put you in an environment where you may be fighting weather, early starts or even carrying heavy products. If you have a service to deliver on, you cannot complain about a situation that you cannot change but instead you can deliver on that service the best way possible and with a smile!
How would you spend a perfect day off?
The way I’d spend a perfect day off would be a long walk with some friends in the countryside where there is a nice pub at the end followed by a nice curry house! Or in the gym lifting weights and eating cake, defeats the object of going to the gym but how can you say no to cake?!