Spotlight on - Scott Edwards

Visits to an aunt in a dark and scary hospital left a lasting impression on five-year-old Scott Edwards. But seeing his relative transformed by a change of care culture also had an impact on a young man who has gone on to enjoy a successful career “making a difference” in people’s lives. New NAPPI uk managing director Scott Edwards says the hospital experiences were his first, and bitter, taste of the care sector. His mum’s sister, who has profound learning disabilities and epilepsy, was in a special hospital at Lothingland near Lowestoft in Suffolk. “The place was full of noise, distress and was quite scary,” he explains. “I remember my mum would grip my wrist when walking through the hospital. She only ever did this there and when needing to walk over a bridge! “I knew at a very young age that this was fear and she felt the need to keep me safe. The hospital was very much an institution and my memories of the noise, the darkness, and the emotions that visited with us will never leave me.”

When it shut and she moved with her carers into a bungalow her life improved greatly.  Her journey helped shape his. 

Scott studied psychology and sociology at college in his home town Great Yarmouth, then worked in a residential home as a Youth Training Scheme student.

It led to a career in care, first as a support worker, then a number of care management positions before becoming training manager responsible for learning and development across sixty nursing and residential care services.

“What I enjoyed most was making a difference, although with each step up the ladder I missed having meaningful contact with service users. I later reflected I could still make a difference by helping to develop care teams, like ripples in a pond,” said Scott.

Scott has now taken over the helm of NAPPI uk where he follows Helen Tait, who continues with the company as director of quality after her 25-year stint as MD.

“I see it as an infinite relay race, and it is my turn with the baton,” said Scott, who is looking forward to the challenge of continuing to grow and develop the business. “When I joined, we were a training provider. Over the years we have evolved to become a solutions provider, supporting organisations to deliver the highest standard of service and changing lives for the better.”  

Scott explains: “Changing lives is our infinite objective, a mission that will keep NAPPI uk busy for as long as there are lives to change.”

Away from work he enjoys family life at their home in Retford Nottinghamshire, where he likes gardening, DIY, and the occasional game of golf – although all to a standard where he won’t be giving the ‘day job’ up any time soon!