Developing an innovation hub blueprint to support digital, data and AI innovation

Summary

We helped Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) to develop a practical blueprint for an Innovation Hub. The project set out to assess organisational readiness for innovation, identify barriers and opportunities, and establish a clear approach to designing, testing and scaling digital, data and artificial intelligence (AI) innovation.

We helped SPFT to take a structured, participatory approach to understanding its innovation challenges and to co-create a consistent method for identifying, developing and adopting innovation. This work has resulted in an agreed blueprint, governance framework and set of principles to support ongoing innovation activity aligned to Trust priorities.

Challenge

Many NHS trusts face challenges in testing, scaling and sustaining digital innovation. An NHS Alliance Digital Transformation Survey of 140 NHS trusts identified operational pressures affecting clinical engagement and training (50%) and inadequate infrastructure, such as poor wi‑fi and multiple log‑ins (38%), as key barriers to digital transformation.[1]

Within NHS organisations, staff‑led innovation can stall or stop entirely due to a lack of clear processes and support. Promising ideas may be lost, leading to frustration and disengagement. Operational pressures can also make it difficult for trusts to horizon scan or identify existing innovations that could address real‑world problems.

At SPFT, intrapreneurship and innovation activities were inconsistent because there was no standardised approach to designing, developing, testing, deploying and evaluating innovation. This applied both to internally generated ideas and to the adoption of established external innovations.

Our approach

We acted as SPFT’s innovation partner, helping the Trust co‑create an Innovation Hub model designed to both unlock internal ideas and identify relevant external opportunities.

The work was underpinned by a collaborative and inclusive approach. We engaged stakeholders from across the organisation to understand needs, pain points and aspirations, ensuring the model reflected real‑world challenges and strategic priorities. This included consideration of health equity and the inclusion of Working With People and Communities (WWP&C) within the model.

We helped SPFT to assess digital, data and AI innovation challenges, align priorities, review best practice, and develop the governance, operating model and outline business case required to deliver a practical Innovation Hub blueprint.

This work aligned with NHS England priorities, including the shift from analogue to digital, prevention, and addressing health inequalities.

Impact

The objectives of the project were delivered, resulting in a defined Innovation Hub blueprint, governance arrangements and a repeatable methodology for innovation at SPFT.

Rather than focusing on small, discrete projects, the Trust is now positioned to apply the blueprint flexibly and organically across future innovation activity. This provides a clearer structure for identifying, developing and adopting digital innovations that align with organisational priorities.

While the project has not yet been fully evaluated in terms of system, patient or economic impact, it has created a foundation to support more consistent and effective innovation processes going forward.

Spread and scalability

The Innovation Hub blueprint has been designed to be transferable and scalable. It is based on a user centred design approach to digital innovation and focuses on principles, governance and methods that can be adapted to different organisational contexts.

Key learnings highlighted through this work include the importance of:

• identifying a Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) to support the programme and remove barriers
• ensuring strong strategic fit and awareness of competing organisational pressures
• engaging stakeholders early and frequently to build support and shared ownership

These lessons are relevant for other trusts seeking to strengthen their approach to innovation.

Find out more

Health Innovation KSS is developing its offer around supporting organisations to build innovation capability.

Further information will be made available through the Health Innovation KSS website. Please contact Dr Victoria Betton for more information.

References

[1] Key messages – NHS Alliance Digital Transformation Survey 2024