Top 5 Takeaways from NHS ConfedExpo 2025: A Vision for the Future of Health and Care.

This year’s NHS ConfedExpo 2025, held at Manchester Central on 11–12 June, brought together over 6,800 thought leaders across health and care. With headline speeches from Health Secretary Wes Streeting and NHS England Chief Executive Sir James Mackey, the event spotlighted innovation, integration, and a renewed commitment to empowering frontline services. Here are the top five takeaways:

1. Community and Co-Design Are Driving NHS Reform

The move from hospital-led to community-driven, co-produced care is no longer theory – it’s becoming practice. Streeting called for service design that reflects lived experiences. Integrated Care Systems and localised delivery models are taking centre stage, emphasising care with communities, not just for them.

2. Innovation Is Scaling Up Fast

From digital therapeutics to data interoperability, the NHS is looking beyond incremental improvement to sweeping innovation at scale. Pilots are evolving into population-level solutions, underpinned by clear evidence and bold ambition.

3. Health Innovation Is an Economic Growth Strategy

Speakers championed health as a driver of national prosperity. With the potential to unlock £113 billion in economic value, innovation in health isn’t just a clinical priority—it’s a strategy for levelling up.

4. Partnerships Are Fuelling Progress

Public-private-academic partnerships took centre stage, demonstrating that collaboration accelerates impact. Think Learning, for example, showcased how its expertise with Totara LMS is empowering NHS organisations to build adaptable, skills-driven workforces – equipping teams to meet the evolving demands of integrated care.

5. The 10-Year Plan for Health Has Momentum

Wes Streeting introduced a transformative 10-Year Health Plan anchored in three shifts: hospital to community, analogue to digital, and reactive to preventive care. Empowering staff through better infrastructure, technology, and learning systems will be key – and platforms like Totara, with their flexible learning and performance capabilities, will be essential to delivering this cultural shift at scale.

Whether you came for the tech, the policy, or the human stories behind both, NHS ConfedExpo 2025 delivered a powerful vision of a connected, empowered, and sustainable health system. And with partners like Think Learning helping build the skills to make that vision a reality, the future of care looks brighter than ever.

Transform how your teams learn and grow with Totara LMS from Think Learning – trusted by NHS and care organisations nationwide. Book your free demo today