Velindre University NHS Trust is implementing the ISO 56001 Innovation Management System to drive an innovation culture and enhance service delivery
Velindre University NHS Trust, a leading healthcare provider in Wales specialising in cancer and Blood Services, is pioneering a new approach to innovation management by implementing the ISO 56001 framework. This marks a significant step forward in aligning innovation with the Trust’s strategic objectives and its status as a university-designated institution, which rests on three core pillars: Innovation, Research and Development, and Training and Education.
Building an Innovation Culture
Jennet Holmes, Head of Innovation at the Trust, who previously worked with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards, stumbled upon the ISO 56000 series while conducting research for an innovation project. She talked about her experiences at the launch of the standard.
Realising its potential, she saw an opportunity to embed an Innovation Management System (IMS) within the Trust to foster a culture where innovation is not a one-off initiative but a fundamental way of working across the organisation.
“The Trust already had a robust infrastructure for research, but there was a clear gap in terms of structured support for innovation. Innovation was frequently mentioned in our strategic papers, but it was only happening in isolated pockets. Our goal was to create a system that made innovation an everyday practice, seamlessly integrated into our operations,” Jennet explained.
Instead of duplicating efforts, Jennet and her team developed a strategic plan that drew from existing commitments outlined in the Trust’s strategic documents. This plan translated high-level goals into practical pathways, a critical step in securing leadership buy-in for the new system.
“The ISO 56000 series provided a structured, internationally recognised framework, which gave our leadership team confidence in the system. This familiarity with ISO standards was crucial in gaining their support to move forward with implementing the IMS,” Jennet noted.
Supporting Innovation with Resources and Partnerships
With the Executive Board’s endorsement, the Trust moved quickly to provide the team with the space and resources they needed to drive innovation. Jennet secured grant funding from the Velindre Cancer Charity to support a range of innovative initiatives, including new projects, training programs, and improved processes.
In line with this, the Trust has launched the ‘Bright Ideas’ portal, a platform designed to engage staff at all levels by capturing their ideas and issuing innovation challenges. “We want to empower our staff, especially those working closest to patients, to take their ideas forward and contribute directly to improving services,” Jennet said.
However, Jennet acknowledges that innovation adoption is not without its challenges. “Building an innovation culture takes time and requires the right resources. As a small NHS Trust, we are mindful of our resource constraints, so we have had to be innovative in our approach to securing funding and support.”
The Trust has successfully secured funding from various sources, including the Welsh Government, Velindre Cancer Charity, Moondance Cancer Charity, and UKRI/SBRI, to support its flagship projects, such as the Advancing Radiotherapy Cymru initiative and NHS Drone Infrastructure partnership.
Looking Ahead: Strengthening the Innovation Ecosystem
“We continue to seek new funding streams and collaborative partnerships to build our innovation infrastructure,” Jennet added. “We know we can’t tackle everything alone, and we are open to working with partners across sectors. ISO 56001 offers us a unique opportunity to strengthen our innovation ecosystem, add value, and drive impact at pace and scale.”
The Velindre University NHS Trust’s implementation of the ISO 56000 series underscores its commitment to fostering a sustainable, organisation-wide culture of innovation, ensuring that new ideas and solutions can thrive and ultimately benefit patients and donors across Wales.
