Back in Business: Mum Edition for NHS NSS - Case Study
We recently ran our brand new programme, Back in Business: Mum Edition, for NHS NSS. NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) was one of Scotland's national NHS boards, providing critical infrastructure, digital services, and specialist support underpinning patient care across the country. From April 2026, NSS merged with NHS Education for Scotland to form Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland).
The Programme
Back in Business: Mum Edition is a coaching and peer support programme developed by Future Proof Learning for mothers of children under five who are navigating the return to work. Born from coach Sunna Gissurardottir's own experience of struggling with imposter syndrome, loss of confidence, and the mental load after maternity leave, the programme offers 12 hours of facilitated online sessions alongside access to a peer community, a resource pack, and the option to add one-to-one coaching. It covers topics including self-advocacy, identity shift, boundaries, managing expectations, and having difficult conversations.
What Shifted for Participants
For many participants, the most significant shift was in how they related to their own experience. Several arrived not fully aware of how much they had been carrying - describing the programme as "the course I didn't realise I needed." Through the sessions, participants reported letting go of the pressure to perform as they had before maternity leave and accepting that their priorities had changed, without guilt. The concept of aiming for small, sustainable improvements rather than dramatic change was a recurring theme, helping participants move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling able to take realistic next steps. Others described a shift in how they understood their emotions, with the sessions giving them language and understanding through exploring Matrescence to make sense of what they were going through rather than dismissing it.
Connection and Safe Space
Across four cohorts, the sense of not being alone came through strongly. Participants valued hearing from other mothers in similar situations, and many expressed a desire to stay connected beyond the programme. The facilitation played a key role in this -participants described the sessions as a safe, open space where they felt genuinely listened to, even those who would not typically share in a group setting. Several highlighted that simply being given the time and space to stop and reflect, without rushing, was in itself powerful.
The Employer Effect
A clear theme in the feedback was that participants felt supported by their employer through the act of making the programme available to them. For many, that investment sent a message that their organisation understood the challenges of returning to work as a parent and was willing to do something meaningful about it. This translated into stronger loyalty, increased motivation, and a more positive experience of their workplace. Several participants recommended the programme be offered more widely and suggested a condensed version for line managers, reflecting a desire for this understanding to extend across their teams.
What's Next
Demand for the programme has outstripped availability, with a waiting list forming for the most recent cohort. As a result, the client has already booked a further run and is looking to extend the programme to other parts of the organisation - a strong signal that this is being recognised not as a one-off initiative, but as an ongoing part of how they support their people.
What Participants Said
I really think this is the course I didn't realise I needed. It's helped me unpack a lot of feelings I've been hanging on to for the past 6 years and wished it was on offer when I came back from maternity leave after my first child."
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This programme helped me readjust to life as a working mum by giving me a sense of belonging and support, rather than facing the challenges alone."
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One of the main things that shifted in my head is that I expected big changes, ideally now, whereas Sunna was more pushing towards 5–10% improvement, which helped me with my thinking of next steps and adjustments I can make."
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Sunna was incredibly warm and approachable, and facilitated the sessions wonderfully. I didn't once get the impression that anyone in the cohort felt uncomfortable. I find it difficult to open up to people I'm not close to, especially with topics that may be emotive, but I happily contributed to the sessions."
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Sunna, the facilitator, is onto something very special here. There is nothing that is as valuable as what she is delivering. Her support and guidance on this topic could provide relief for so many parents."
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Best course I have done in a long time."