The Growing Demand for Recruitment Contracts in Healthcare
The UK healthcare sector is experiencing sustained workforce pressures. As of early 2025, more than 106,000 NHS vacancies remained unfilled across England — including over 25,600 nursing posts. The competitive healthcare market makes it essential for suppliers to understand market dynamics and trends to stay ahead. Despite efforts to reduce reliance on agency and temporary staff, the NHS still expects to spend over £8 billion on external staffing this year, highlighting the ongoing dependence on recruitment partners to keep services running.
For suppliers, this presents a major opportunity. Identifying and securing contract opportunities early is crucial for gaining a competitive advantage in the healthcare market. Public sector recruitment procurement has become one of the most active areas of NHS spending, covering everything from clinical locums and nurses to administrative and support roles, and serving multiple sectors within the NHS and public sector. Those who understand how NHS staffing contracts work — and how to qualify for the right frameworks — can build steady pipelines of public sector work. Many companies and agencies have successfully navigated these processes to secure their place in the market. Looking to secure NHS recruitment contracts? Let HCI show you the way.
What Are Recruitment Contracts?
Recruitment contracts are formal procurement agreements that allow NHS and public healthcare bodies to source staff from approved agencies. These include:
- Clinical roles – doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, and healthcare assistants
- Non-clinical roles – administrative, IT, estates, operational support staff, as well as engineering and manufacturing roles
- Permanent staff – long-term employment solutions across various sectors
- Permanent recruitment and international hiring – for long-term workforce solutions
Typically structured as framework agreements, these contracts pre-approve suppliers who meet strict compliance, quality, and pricing standards. Once on a framework, an agency can be awarded call-offs or direct contracts by NHS organisations without re-tendering each time. Agencies source candidates for these roles, ensuring the right fit for both clinical and non-clinical positions.
This model ensures speed, compliance, and consistency — giving NHS buyers confidence in supplier quality while helping approved agencies gain steady work.
Explore how we support healthcare workforce procurement. View our plans.
How to Access Recruitment Contracts in the Public Sector
Most NHS recruitment contracts are awarded through structured routes such as:
- Framework Agreements – pre-tendered contracts that remain in place for up to four years (now extendable under the Procurement Act 2023). Suppliers bid to join during tender windows and, once approved, can receive call-offs directly.
- Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) – open digital frameworks that suppliers can join at any time, designed to make access easier for SMEs.
- Mini-competitions and Direct Awards – buyers either run a short competition among framework suppliers or award directly to a pre-ranked agency. Exclusive arrangements are also available for ongoing or volume recruitment needs.
To qualify, suppliers must demonstrate proven experience, sound financial standing, and rigorous compliance systems. Understanding the process is essential for successful applications. NHS England has also confirmed that, from 2024 onwards, trusts must use approved framework agencies only, effectively ending off-framework placements.
We help suppliers qualify and win on major frameworks — get in touch today to learn more about our solution for supporting you through every step of the procurement process.
What Buyers Look for in Workforce Recruitment Solutions
Understanding buyer priorities is key to success. NHS organisations typically assess bids based on:
- Compliance and Safety: Demonstrated adherence to NHS Employer Check Standards, DBS and right-to-work checks, clinical governance, and regular audits.
- Quality Assurance: High fill rates, robust service-level management, and clear escalation procedures for underperformance.
- Capacity and Coverage: Ability to supply across multiple staff groups, regions, and shifts.
- Value for Money: Competitive rates aligned with NHS price caps, transparent pricing, and measurable cost savings, helping buyers save on staffing costs.
- Social Value and EDI: Clear commitments to equality, diversity, sustainability, and community benefits, in line with NHS social value weighting.
- Flexibility: Rapid response times, scalable staffing, and 24/7 service capability.
Buyers often face staffing issues such as spiraling agency costs and bank staffing challenges. Addressing these issues requires bespoke solutions that are tailored to each organisation’s unique needs.
Ultimately, buyers seek trusted recruitment partners who deliver safe, compliant, and reliable staff while aligning with NHS values, and who can provide a tailored solution to meet NHS needs.
Meet public sector expectations with expert guidance from HCI. Find out more.
Clinical Staffing Priorities in 2025
In 2025, NHS staffing priorities remain heavily focused on critical shortage areas, including:
- Mental Health Services: Ongoing vacancies for mental health nurses, psychiatrists, and therapists continue to drive urgent demand. Attracting the best talent is essential to address these shortages and ensure high-quality care.
- Nursing & Midwifery: Tens of thousands of vacancies across acute, community, and maternity services ensure agency nurses remain vital.
- Doctors and Locums: Emergency medicine, anaesthetics, radiology, and psychiatry are persistently short-staffed, with heavy reliance on locums.
- Allied Health Professionals: Radiographers, physiotherapists, and biomedical scientists are in high demand as diagnostic backlogs grow.
Suppliers who can reliably meet demand in these categories — particularly through innovative or international recruitment models — are well-positioned to succeed in the years ahead by building strong teams and supporting the future of healthcare staffing.
Target high-demand areas with real-time procurement intelligence. Access HCI resources to help secure the talent needed for the future of NHS staffing.
Key Frameworks for Recruitment and Staffing
To engage with NHS recruitment opportunities, suppliers should familiarise themselves with major frameworks, including:
Suppliers can search for the most suitable frameworks to match their expertise and business goals, ensuring they target the right opportunities.
- RM6281 Clinical & Healthcare Staffing – NHS Workforce Alliance framework for doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals.
- RM6277 Non-Clinical Temporary & Fixed-Term Staff – covering admin, IT, and estates roles.
- HealthTrust Europe Total Workforce Solutions (TWS) – for permanent and international healthcare recruitment.
- Upcoming RM6380 Workforce Solutions Framework – next-generation agreement integrating staff bank management, MSP solutions, and workforce technology.
Devolved administrations also operate their own frameworks through NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, and HSCNI. Being listed on one or more of these is the most reliable route to sustained NHS business.
Unsure which frameworks to target? HCI helps suppliers qualify and apply.
Preparing Compliant Tender Documentation
Success in NHS recruitment procurement often depends on documentation. Having the right knowledge is crucial for preparing successful tenders and ensuring compliance with complex requirements. Suppliers must have:
- Updated policy suite (Equality, Quality Assurance, Safeguarding, Clinical Governance, GDPR, H&S).
- Evidence of compliance (ISO certifications, REC membership, audit reports).
- Insurance certificates meeting NHS minimums.
- Sample candidate vetting and revalidation documentation.
- Detailed job descriptions included in the documentation.
- Social value and EDI commitments with measurable outcomes.
- Clear, compliant pricing matrices aligned to NHS pay frameworks.
- Strong references and performance evidence (e.g. fill rates, cost savings).
Before submission, verify every requirement in the tender pack. Missing a single mandatory document can result in disqualification — even if your offer is otherwise competitive.
Need help preparing tender documentation? Speak to our procurement experts today.
How HCI Contracts Supports Recruitment Service Providers
At HCI Contracts, we simplify complex recruitment procurement. We take pride in supporting our suppliers and their growth in the healthcare sector. Our platform helps suppliers:
- Access live tender and framework opportunities in healthcare staffing
- Track contract renewals and buyer activity through real-time data
- Benchmark rates and evaluate competitors across NHS frameworks
- Streamline bid preparation through centralised contract intelligence while working closely with suppliers to achieve their goals.
We’ve supported hundreds of UK suppliers to qualify for and win workforce and clinical recruitment contracts — giving them clarity, compliance confidence, and competitive advantage. We are proud of the results we have achieved for our clients, having helped over 100 providers win staffing contracts — see how we can help you.
Secure Your Place on Leading NHS Recruitment Frameworks
The NHS’s workforce crisis has created both challenge and opportunity. For recruitment suppliers, understanding frameworks, compliance expectations, and clinical priorities is the key to growth.
By focusing on quality, social value, and readiness to meet demand, your business can position itself as a trusted NHS partner — delivering the staff healthcare services need most.
Be informed. Be compliant. Be ready. Ready to win clinical and workforce staffing contracts?