This year, we achieved over 4,000 hires across the organisation, a testament to our ability to attract and secure top talent in a competitive market. These hires came from more than 40 different sources, demonstrating the strength of our employer brand and the incredible work of our Attraction team. We celebrated a record-breaking Q1 with 1,117 hires, the highest in our history, and provided vital support for new acquisitions, ensuring smooth transitions and continuity of care.
To achieve this scale, we partnered with charities and organisations such as Tent UK, The King’s Trust, Generation UK, and Rest Less, enabling us to reach diverse communities and candidate demographics.
Recruitment spanned all 19 job families, including nearly 500 Nurses, 265 hires into MDT vacancies (including 26 Consultant Psychiatrists), and 90 hires into Central Functions across Commercial, Communications, Corporate Governance, Digital Services, Finance, HR, and Property.
Our recruitment approach reflects our commitment to inclusivity. 59% of hires were female, 38% male, and 3% do not identify as male or female. In addition, our hires represent 71 different nationalities, enriching our workforce with diverse perspectives and experiences. This diversity strengthens our culture and ensures we continue to deliver meaningful impact for those we support.
We reduced the average onboarding time to under 40 days, ensuring new colleagues start compliantly and feel welcomed from day one.
October saw Cygnet centralise the onboarding process, meaning that the Onboarding process is now the sole responsibility of our department and with it a guarantee of consistency, compliance, and a streamlined experience for every new starter and hiring manager.
Our Audit team audited well over 2500 personnel files to ensure that new starters were compliant from their very first day on induction.
In 2025, our Sponsorship team played a vital role in supporting colleagues across Cygnet. Over 620 colleagues received assistance with their Right to Work visas, including more than 340 visa renewals and over 70 internal promotions.
As we look ahead to 2026, we will not be able to provide any new sponsorships. However, our commitment to supporting our colleagues remains unchanged. The team will continue to be available to assist and signpost regards applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain and to answer any general queries around Right to Work.
This year saw the launch of Cygnet Connect, our new talent bank, revolutionising how we engage with prospective candidates.
We also went live with Workday Recruiting and Onboarding, a platform designed for hiring managers to use directly, ensuring accountability, consistency, and transparency across the organisation.
We introduced a Resource Hub on our Cygnet Careers Site to enhance candidate experience and rolled out the Cygnet Direct approach email template for targeted headhunting. Working with our external recruitment marketing partner, we implemented talent-mapping tools and executed direct HTML email campaigns for key roles. We also activated the Workday Announcements tool, mobilising internal talent for priority roles.
We introduced an Agency Usage Explainer Report, giving senior stakeholders actionable insights and helping us prioritise and forecast effectively.
Operationally, we successfully filled all roles for the openings of Cygnet Kenney House, Cygnet Hospital Kidsgrove, and Cygnet Elowen Hospital, enabling these services to open on time and deliver outstanding care to our patients.
Additionally, we launched a new sub Employee Value Proposition, #ThePursuitofMeaningfulImpact, designed to attract and retain the very best Psychiatrists from around the world.
Our team represented Cygnet at over 25 recruitment events, both face-to-face and virtual, including partnerships with organisations like Kings Trust, Smart Works, and Shaw Trust.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible teamwork across Cygnet. To our hiring managers, HR Ops, Learning & Development colleagues, operational stakeholders, the newly established PMO, and the unwavering support of our Executive Board, thank you for your partnership and trust.
The biggest thanks goes to the 40 members of the Resourcing Department. This year has brought its share of challenges, but your resilience, professionalism, and integrity have been nothing short of inspiring. You’ve shown what it means to live our values every single day.
2025 has been a year of growth, innovation, and collaboration for Cygnet Resourcing. In 2026, we’re taking it even further.
Our goal is simple, to make a real difference where we can. That means being bold and transformational in the areas that matter most, while staying practical and efficient where it counts. We want to build a team that’s sustainable, supportive, and committed to helping each other grow, both as individuals and as a collective.
Next year, our recruitment strategy will put people first, backed by smart digital tools that make the process easier and more transparent. As healthcare continues to evolve, we’ll keep working to bring in compassionate, skilled colleagues who share our mission of making a meaningful impact.
Thank you to everyone who played a part in making this year such a success, and here’s to a year of transformation, inclusion, and excellence.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2026.
