In our Meet the Team series, we introduce the people working behind the scenes to help healthcare providers access flexible space across England. This time we’re speaking to Mike Guest, Business Manager at NHS Open Space.
Tell us about your role at NHS Open Space
My role involves proactively engaging with healthcare service providers of all sizes to introduce them to NHS Open Space and the value it can offer.
We provide access to flexible, low-cost, low-commitment space across the NHS estate, and I work with organisations to help them understand how they can use it to deliver services more effectively in community settings.
What experience do you bring to the team?
I originally trained and worked as a nurse within the NHS, and alongside that I have almost 20 years of sales experience across both public and private healthcare environments.
This combination helps me understand the operational pressures healthcare providers face while also being able to support them in finding practical solutions for delivering services.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
A typical day involves speaking with healthcare providers to brief them on the NHS Open Space offer and explore how it could support their services.
I also work closely with colleagues across the team to discuss non-standard requirements, such as full-time occupancy or specific location requests, ensuring we find the right solution for each organisation.
Can you tell us about a challenge you’ve overcome in your role?
One challenge has been developing a more structured approach to communicating the benefits of NHS Open Space to providers outside the NHS.
I’ve been working on introducing clearer processes and structure so we can engage with a wider range of healthcare service providers across all regions of England and help them understand how NHS Open Space can support their services.
What keeps your role interesting?
I enjoy working with people — we have a great team and fantastic customers.
There’s a real sense of satisfaction in helping healthcare providers deliver services in community settings, improving access for patients and enabling them to receive care closer to home.
Tell us a bit about you outside of work
In my spare time I enjoy running, often raising money for charities including Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, and Dementia support organisations.
I also enjoy reading and cooking, but much of my spare time is dedicated to writing — I’m an aspiring author.
What’s next for you and for NHS Open Space?
Personally, I’d like to continue developing my career within NHS Property Services, particularly by taking on more people management responsibilities. I’ve always enjoyed coaching and supporting colleagues, and I’d like to do more of that in my day-to-day work.
For NHS Open Space, I’m excited about continuing to grow our reach and helping more healthcare providers make use of flexible NHS space to deliver services where patients need them most.
