Connect and Grow: Peer Support Network
Learning Together, Growing Stronger
While structured modules and resources are essential to your development, we understand that as challenges grow more complex, the value of learning with and from your peers becomes even more powerful. That’s why we offer a variety of collaborative opportunities designed to help you connect, share insights, and grow together.
Whether it’s through peer learning groups, interactive workshops, or cross-functional projects, we’re committed to creating spaces where collective wisdom drives meaningful progress.
Action Learning Sets: Learning Through Real-World Challenges
Action Learning Sets offer a powerful opportunity for cross-Board collaboration. They bring together members to explore real issues, reflect on challenges, and learn with and from each other’s experiences. Through open dialogue and shared problem-solving, participants gain fresh insights and practical strategies they can apply in their own Board contexts. Having this safe space to work through difficult issues can be inspirational.
Below is a short video from Suzanne Dawson, Chair of the Scottish Health Council and Vice Chair of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, who talks about how Action Learning Sets are set out and the benefits she’s seen from taking part.
Contact us if you would like to be part of an Action Learning Set : board.development@nes.scot.nhs.uk
Mentoring: A Powerful Path to Leadership Growth
Mentoring is more than just guidance, it's a dynamic, two-way learning experience that fuels effective leadership development. Both mentors and mentees benefit: mentors gain fresh perspectives and a sense of purpose, while mentees receive valuable insights, support, and encouragement on their journey.
Whether you're looking to grow, give back, or both, mentoring is a proven tool for building stronger leaders and stronger teams. Some of the reasons non-executives have become involved in mentoring include:
- Taking on new challenges in the non-executive role.
- Wanting to increase confidence and improve questioning at the board.
- Needing to explore a tricky issue with someone who has been through a similar experience.
- To learn about another Board’s experience on a specific issue.
- To address other development needs identified through their appraisal.
Interested in mentoring or being mentored? Start by having a conversation with your Chair. Once you’ve done that, feel free to email us at board.development@nes.scot.nhs.uk to express your interest, whether you’d like to be a mentor or find one.
To support your mentoring journey, we’ve created a short guide to help you:
- Set clear expectations
- Establish healthy boundaries
- Keep your mentoring partnership on track
The video below shares reflections and feedback from Chairs, Vice Chairs and non-executives who’ve taken part, both mentors and mentees, about what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown through the experience.
Building a Stronger Non-Executive Community
Across NHS Scotland, our Non-Executive members bring a remarkable range of skills, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that by connecting more effectively, sharing insights, and working together, we can tackle some of the most complex challenges we face, and unlock powerful opportunities for improvement.
That’s why we have launched a dedicated Non-Executive Teams Channel, a space designed to foster collaboration, share intelligence, and tap into the collective expertise of Non-Executives across Scotland.
We know how busy everyone is, so we’re trialling this initiative for one year, with a review to follow. Our goal is to make it easy, valuable, and impactful for you to engage when it suits you.
If you have not already been added to the teams page, email us at board.development@nes.scot.nhs.uk and we will invite you.