When you are considering adopting the People Alchemy ePortfolio platform for preceptorships, enthusiasm and understanding the benefits this will bring for your NHS Trust is a great start — but it’s not enough to get budget sign off. You need a solid NHS preceptorship business case to get buy-in from the senior decision makers.
The budget holders and purchasing departments will expect a clear, evidence-based business case that speaks their language, aligns with NHS priorities, and shows a return on investment they can’t ignore.
To support you with this important step, we have created a guide to get approval for your digital preceptorship programme.
Why your NHS preceptorship business case matters
Your business case should be more than a funding request.
Done well, it’s a compelling argument for change that will clearly describe the problem your Trust is facing, and a recommended solution. It demonstrates both financial and non-financial benefits, as well as anticipates and addresses likely questions or objections.
The five steps to success
- Gather your local data
Start with the facts:
- How many newly registered nurses, midwives, and AHPs join your Trust each year?
- What are your current completion and attrition rates for these groups?
- What’s the typical cost of replacing a nurse? (Finance or HR can give you a figure – £20k is conservative.)
- How many admin hours per preceptee do educators spend each month, and what’s their hourly cost?
Be realistic — some admin will always be necessary, but much of it can be eliminated with a digital preceptorship platform.
- Run the NHS preceptorship ROI calculator
We’ve created an easy-to-use tool that turns your numbers into projected savings:
- Reduced attrition = lower replacement costs.
- Fewer admin hours = more educator time for clinical support.
- Add in any extra savings, such as printing and materials.
These figures will form the heart of your NHS business case template.
- Add your local context
Highlight what’s driving change in your Trust:
- Recent CQC feedback.
- Recruitment and workforce retention challenges or staffing pressures.
- Trust strategy on digitalisation and learning delivery.
- Quotes from senior staff that paint a picture of the current challenges.
- Link to NHS priorities
Show how your proposal aligns with national and policy drivers:
- National Preceptorship Framework for Nursing (NHS England, 2022) [1]
- NHS Long Term Workforce Plan [2]
- CQC Well-Led Framework [3]
- National policy commitments to digital transformation in healthcare.
- Prepare for objections
Be ready with answers:
| Objection | Suggested response |
| We don’t have budget this year | Show ROI — net savings can exceed cost in the first year. Delaying increases avoidable attrition costs. |
| Our current system works fine | Ask how they track completion, consistency, and compliance — then show how People Alchemy automates and evidences this reliably. |
| Staff won’t adopt it | Emphasise mobile-friendly design, ease of use, and onboarding support. |
| Data security concerns | Confirm UK hosting, Cyber Essentials certification, GDPR compliance, and annual penetration testing. |
What your NHS business case should include
While every Trust template will be different, most follow a similar structure:
- Executive summary – Your proposal in a nutshell.
- Background and problem statement – The case for change.
- Aims and objectives – Your main goal and measurable targets (e.g., reduce attrition, save admin hours).
- Options appraisal – Compare doing nothing, enhancing existing systems, or adopting People Alchemy.
- Benefits and expected outcomes – ROI figures plus qualitative benefits like improved engagement, compliance, and wellbeing.
- Costs – Transparent pricing, with potential for cost sharing across departments.
- Risks and mitigations – How you’ll overcome challenges.
- Implementation plan – How and when you’ll roll out.
- Recommendation – Why now is the right time.
Example ROI in practice
Here’s what the numbers might look like for a Trust with 30 preceptees per year:
- Retention savings: £6,000
- Educator time savings: £13,500
- Printing savings: £600
- Total annual savings: £20,100
- Net annual benefit: £14,140
- Payback period: 3.6 months
And that’s before factoring in the additional value of:
- Consistent, high-quality programme delivery.
- Easier audit evidence for CQC.
- Better communication between preceptee, preceptor, and admin.
Why this approach works
The People Alchemy ePortfolio platform gives NHS Trusts a cost-effective, scalable way to deliver digital preceptorship programmes that meet national standards, improve retention, reduce educator workload, and provide strong compliance evidence.
With the right NHS preceptorship business case, decision-makers will have the clarity and confidence to approve your proposal — and you’ll be one step closer to a better supported, more resilient workforce.
Get your free NHS preceptorship business case kit
We will provide you with everything you need to make your case:
- A ready-to-use NHS preceptorship ROI calculator.
- A quick start guide to building your proposal (with example template).
Request your NHS preceptorship business case kit and get started today.
NEW: NHS Care Certificate business case kit also available now – contact us
