About

We specialise in supporting clients when no-one else can

Whether the requirement is last minute, unusual, remote or difficult to cover, the Guild can help at any time of the day or night. We work across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, recruiting to standards which exceed local regulation and guidelines.

30 years of nursing excellence

With almost 30 years’ experience in responding to last-minute requirements, our service is fast, reliable, and trusted. We care passionately about our nurses and the difference they make to the lives of patients and clients.

Our nurses are our reputation. We recruit only the very best professionals, and only those who embrace our ethos. Every nurse is flexible, highly experienced and willing to travel long distances, often at short notice.

We recognise the level of flexibility and commitment needed to work for us. That’s why we offer our healthcare workers industry-leading pay rates, plus other benefits such as travel costs, NMC & NMBI reimbursement, training, and flu vouchers.

Our mission and vision


Our mission: To support health providers deliver the highest standards of nursing care when no one else can.

Our vision: To be the trusted provider of exceptional nurses to the NHS, HSE, and private health sector, often at extremely short notice.

Our nurses are our reputation. We recruit only the very best professionals, and only those who embrace our ethos. Every one of our nurses is flexible, highly experienced and willing to travel long distances, often at short notice. We care passionately about our nurses and the difference they make to the lives of patients and clients.

Our clients

We work with a wide range of clients in both hospital and community settings. Our clients can call on us at extremely short notice, at any time, day or night. They include:

  • NHS trusts and health boards
  • HSE hospitals
  • Private hospitals
  • Local authorities and councils
  • Care and nursing homes
  • GP surgeries
  • Urgent care centres
  • Individuals living at home with complex health needs
  • Individuals requiring private nursing care outside of hospital
  • Mental health and learning disability units
  • Medical research organisations

Expert, nurse-led recruitment teams

Our recruitment teams are led by experienced nurses, who we believe are best placed to recruit like-minded professionals. Our recruitment process ensures that every nurse has the most recent and relevant experience. We also offer our nurses voluntary training, CPD and PREP study opportunities. This means you’ll stay up to date with the latest best practice while enhancing your skills – something usually only available for those in substantive posts.

Our history

The first Scottish Nursing Guild office opened in Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh. There were four employees, and the office was situated in the heart of the city above a wine importer. In 2013, we expanded into Northern Ireland with our first office in Belfast. In January 2016, we opened our first office in the Republic of Ireland, in the thriving city of Dublin. Most recently, we opened our second Irish office in Cork in October 2022 to service clients across Munster.

Proud supporters of Cavell and the Irish Hospice Foundation

We are a founding member of Cavell’s ‘Working with’ programme and fundraise for the Trust every year. Cavell supports UK nurses, midwives and HCAs, both working and retired. The trust can help them with personal or financial hardship, illness, disability, older age and domestic abuse.

Read more about our partnership with Cavell

The Irish Hospice Foundation is a national charity striving for best care at end of life for all. They work in every county in Ireland and rely on voluntary fundraising to support and maintain this work. Nursing Guild nurses are often called upon to support individuals with end-of-life care and so we recognise how essential these services are. Our fundraising goes towards the Nurses for Night Care service for people dying with illnesses other than cancer.

Read more about how we support the Irish Hospice Foundation

Careers

People are our biggest asset, which is why we strive to create an environment that’s both challenging and rewarding. Whichever role you apply for at the Guild, you can expect:

  • Personal development plans for career progression
  • Professional qualification support
  • Excellent rewards for your high performance

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