What is NHS Shared Business Services?

NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) is a joint venture between the Department of Health and Social Care and Sopra Steria, providing procurement, finance, and HR services to NHS organisations across England.

What is NHS Shared Business Services?

NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) is a joint venture between the Department of Health and Social Care and Sopra Steria, providing procurement, finance, and HR services to NHS organisations across England. Established in 2005, SBS operates as a shared service organisation designed to deliver cost-effective back-office functions to NHS trusts, foundation trusts, and other health bodies.

Core Services and Functions

SBS delivers three primary service areas to the NHS. Their procurement services include category management, supplier relationship management, and contract administration across various spend categories including clinical and non-clinical goods and services. The finance function encompasses accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger management, and financial reporting services. HR services cover payroll processing, recruitment administration, and employee lifecycle management.

The organisation manages procurement spend worth billions of pounds annually across hundreds of NHS organisations. SBS operates from multiple locations including Liverpool, Newcastle, and Warrington, employing thousands of staff to support NHS operations.

Procurement Frameworks and Market Access

As part of its procurement remit, SBS manages access to various frameworks and helps NHS organisations navigate complex procurement regulations. They work closely with Crown Commercial Service frameworks, NHS-specific agreements, and regional procurement collaboratives to ensure compliant and cost-effective purchasing.

SBS also supports NHS organisations in meeting their procurement obligations under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the new Procurement Act 2023. This includes guidance on competitive tendering, direct award procedures, and framework utilisation.

Digital Transformation and Technology

The organisation has invested heavily in digital transformation, implementing cloud-based ERP systems and automated procurement platforms. These systems integrate with NHS financial systems and provide real-time visibility of spend and contract performance across the health service.

SBS continues to evolve its service offering, particularly in areas such as data analytics, artificial intelligence for invoice processing, and digital procurement platforms that enable NHS organisations to access pre-negotiated contracts and framework agreements more efficiently.

For suppliers looking to work with the NHS, understanding SBS's role in the procurement ecosystem is crucial, as they often serve as the first point of contact for contract management and supplier onboarding processes across multiple NHS organisations simultaneously.