Meet the team

I’m Sara James, Chief Operating Officer for SNG. With over two decades of experience in the healthcare industry, I am dedicated to ensuring the seamless functioning of our operations and the achievement of our strategic objectives. Alongside maintaining operational excellence, I am committed to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration throughout the organisation.  

I am driven by a deep passion for delivering exceptional service quality and supporting healthcare professionals. My journey began in 1999 when I joined the Scottish Nursing Guild as Operations Manager in Edinburgh. The following year I became MD of both the Guild and Thornbury Nursing. With a background as a Registered Nurse in both the UK and the USA, my career was centred around cardiac and general ICU, as well as hospital management.

I’m Richard Barr, Managing Director for SNG across the UK and Ireland. I’ve been with the company since October 2012 and have held several roles in that time. I joined SNG in 2012 as Operations Team Manager in Edinburgh, after holding senior operational roles in both Edinburgh and Dublin. 

During my time with SNG, I have overseen growth into new territories and new business units for both the Guild and our sister company Thornbury Nursing Services. Fluctuating market conditions means we have to constantly evolve and innovate, but thankfully our incredible nurses remain a byword for quality.

I’m Mairi Carling, Community Operations Director at the Scottish Nursing Guild. I am a dual-qualified nurse in adult and paediatric nursing and specialised in paediatric intensive care for the most part of my nursing career. I began working as a field nurse with SNG in 2001, working with both adults and children in various specialities, before taking on a community office role. I started my career as Senior Case Manager in 2013 then became a director in 2021 overseeing all of our Community businesses in SNG and sister company, Thornbury Nursing Services. I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of our growing community division.  

Our work is diverse. We provide care for people of all ages and conditions, no matter how complex their needs are, and it is extremely rewarding as we make a real difference to people’s lives. Our teams are dedicated to providing our clients with a quality, professional, reliable and compassionate service so they can remain at home or in the community.

I’m Naomi Newport, Commercial Director for SNG. I have worked for the Guild since 2016. I originally joined as Business Manager for the Republic of Ireland. I then progressed to General Manager for our operations across Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. My role has now changed and I oversee our commercial teams, building relationships with new clients and improving the relationships we have with existing clients, helping us to deliver the best possible service to the healthcare sector across the UK and Ireland.  

I have over 20 years’ sales management, recruitment and operations experience from many different sectors, including telecoms and NGOs. SNG offers clients and nurses a unique service, and it is something I am very proud to be part of.

I’m Kate Nicholson-Florence, Quality Assurance Director for SNG. I started my career as a qualified paediatric nurse in 1998 and have experience in both the acute and community sector. I have been with the company since 2009, specifically working in a quality and governance role since 2021.

I am the Registered Manager for SNG in Northern Ireland, and the Responsible Individual for our Domiciliary Care Licence in Northern Ireland. I have overall responsibility for our Quality Assurance across UK and Ireland, ensuring we provide the highest quality agency workers to support clients in both hospital and community settings.

I’m Andrew Davies, Technology and Digital Products Director for SNG. I joined in 2005 as a Duty Desk Coordinator. In the subsequent years I moved through various supervisory and managerial roles, including three years managing our community care business. In 2013, I took a sideways move into Data Analytics and Technology.

In 2018, I took lead of our Technology Strategy and built a new Digital Products Team. My role has changed dramatically over two decades however I greatly value the experience of my early years as it gave me a solid understanding of the market we serve as well as some great memories of our candidates and clients.  

I manage a team who are responsible for improving our current tech platforms through designing and building applications to better support our nurses, clients, and internal staff.

I’m Alex Stewart, Head of Operations across Scotland and Ireland. I joined SNG in July 2021 and was tasked with heading up our temporary staffing and recruitment teams. I have over 10 years’ experience working in the recruitment industry. Since joining, I have since taken responsibility for our community, compliance, mental health and specialist nurse placement teams. 

I oversee all operations and my primary goal is to ensure we are providing the highest quality service to our clients and nurses.

I’m Anna McMurray, Operations Team Manager for Scotland. I have been with the company since 2013 and joined after many years within banking and customer service roles. I was attracted to the company as nursing has always been close to my heart, with many family members working in the healthcare industry.   

I began my career as a coordinator on the bookings and placements team and now operationally manage this team. I thoroughly enjoy being part of an ever growing and evolving business, with people at its core.

I’m Nick Harvey and I am the Operations Manager for our community team in Scotland. I joined SNG in 2016 as a coordinator and progressed roles during my time here.  My role is to ensure the efficient running of the community department from an operational perspective.

I have overseen rapid growth within the community team and have assisted with implementing a number of procedures which have improved how we operate and most importantly, the quality of the service we deliver to our clients and how we support our community agency workers.

I am Claire Turley, Sales Manager at the Scottish Nursing Guild. I recently joined the team in February 2024. My role involves managing our sales teams across Scotland and Ireland, providing coaching and mentorship to ensure exceptional customer service for both prospective and current clients.

With a diverse background spanning various industries such as advertising and apprenticeships, I bring extensive experience in building and nurturing sales teams.

I’m Sara James, Chief Operating Officer for SNG. With over two decades of experience in the healthcare industry, I am dedicated to ensuring the seamless functioning of our operations and the achievement of our strategic objectives. Alongside maintaining operational excellence, I am committed to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration throughout the organisation.  

I am driven by a deep passion for delivering exceptional service quality and supporting healthcare professionals. My journey began in 1999 when I joined the Scottish Nursing Guild as Operations Manager in Edinburgh. The following year I became MD of both the Guild and Thornbury Nursing. With a background as a Registered Nurse in both the UK and the USA, my career was centred around cardiac and general ICU, as well as hospital management.

I’m Richard Barr, Managing Director for SNG across the UK and Ireland. I’ve been with the company since October 2012 and have held several roles in that time. I joined SNG in 2012 as Operations Team Manager in Edinburgh, after holding senior operational roles in both Edinburgh and Dublin. 

During my time with SNG, I have overseen growth into new territories and new business units for both the Guild and our sister company Thornbury Nursing Services. Fluctuating market conditions means we have to constantly evolve and innovate, but thankfully our incredible nurses remain a byword for quality.

I’m Mairi Carling, Community Operations Director at the Scottish Nursing Guild. I am a dual-qualified nurse in adult and paediatric nursing and specialised in paediatric intensive care for the most part of my nursing career. I began working as a field nurse with SNG in 2001, working with both adults and children in various specialities, before taking on a community office role. I started my career as Senior Case Manager in 2013 then became a director in 2021 overseeing all of our Community businesses in SNG and sister company, Thornbury Nursing Services. I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of our growing community division.  

Our work is diverse. We provide care for people of all ages and conditions, no matter how complex their needs are, and it is extremely rewarding as we make a real difference to people’s lives. Our teams are dedicated to providing our clients with a quality, professional, reliable and compassionate service so they can remain at home or in the community.

I’m Naomi Newport, Commercial Director for SNG. I have worked for the Guild since 2016. I originally joined as Business Manager for the Republic of Ireland. I then progressed to General Manager for our operations across Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. My role has now changed and I oversee our commercial teams, building relationships with new clients and improving the relationships we have with existing clients, helping us to deliver the best possible service to the healthcare sector across the UK and Ireland.  

I have over 20 years’ sales management, recruitment and operations experience from many different sectors, including telecoms and NGOs. SNG offers clients and nurses a unique service, and it is something I am very proud to be part of.

I’m Kate Nicholson-Florence, Quality Assurance Director for SNG. I started my career as a qualified paediatric nurse in 1998 and have experience in both the acute and community sector. I have been with the company since 2009, specifically working in a quality and governance role since 2021.

I am the Registered Manager for SNG in Northern Ireland, and the Responsible Individual for our Domiciliary Care Licence in Northern Ireland. I have overall responsibility for our Quality Assurance across UK and Ireland, ensuring we provide the highest quality agency workers to support clients in both hospital and community settings.

I’m Andrew Davies, Technology and Digital Products Director for SNG. I joined in 2005 as a Duty Desk Coordinator. In the subsequent years I moved through various supervisory and managerial roles, including three years managing our community care business. In 2013, I took a sideways move into Data Analytics and Technology.

In 2018, I took lead of our Technology Strategy and built a new Digital Products Team. My role has changed dramatically over two decades however I greatly value the experience of my early years as it gave me a solid understanding of the market we serve as well as some great memories of our candidates and clients.  

I manage a team who are responsible for improving our current tech platforms through designing and building applications to better support our nurses, clients, and internal staff.

I’m Alex Stewart, Head of Operations across Scotland and Ireland. I joined SNG in July 2021 and was tasked with heading up our temporary staffing and recruitment teams. I have over 10 years’ experience working in the recruitment industry. Since joining, I have since taken responsibility for our community, compliance, mental health and specialist nurse placement teams. 

I oversee all operations and my primary goal is to ensure we are providing the highest quality service to our clients and nurses.

I am Claire Turley, Sales Manager at the Scottish Nursing Guild. I recently joined the team in February 2024. My role involves managing our sales teams across Scotland and Ireland, providing coaching and mentorship to ensure exceptional customer service for both prospective and current clients.

With a diverse background spanning various industries such as advertising and apprenticeships, I bring extensive experience in building and nurturing sales teams.

I’m Sara James, Chief Operating Officer for SNG. With over two decades of experience in the healthcare industry, I am dedicated to ensuring the seamless functioning of our operations and the achievement of our strategic objectives. Alongside maintaining operational excellence, I am committed to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration throughout the organisation.  

I am driven by a deep passion for delivering exceptional service quality and supporting healthcare professionals. My journey began in 1999 when I joined the Scottish Nursing Guild as Operations Manager in Edinburgh. The following year I became MD of both the Guild and Thornbury Nursing. With a background as a Registered Nurse in both the UK and the USA, my career was centred around cardiac and general ICU, as well as hospital management.

I’m Richard Barr, Managing Director for SNG across the UK and Ireland. I’ve been with the company since October 2012 and have held several roles in that time. I joined SNG in 2012 as Operations Team Manager in Edinburgh, after holding senior operational roles in both Edinburgh and Dublin. 

During my time with SNG, I have overseen growth into new territories and new business units for both the Guild and our sister company Thornbury Nursing Services. Fluctuating market conditions means we have to constantly evolve and innovate, but thankfully our incredible nurses remain a byword for quality.

I’m Mairi Carling, Community Operations Director at the Scottish Nursing Guild. I am a dual-qualified nurse in adult and paediatric nursing and specialised in paediatric intensive care for the most part of my nursing career. I began working as a field nurse with SNG in 2001, working with both adults and children in various specialities, before taking on a community office role. I started my career as Senior Case Manager in 2013 then became a director in 2021 overseeing all of our Community businesses in SNG and sister company, Thornbury Nursing Services. I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of our growing community division.  

Our work is diverse. We provide care for people of all ages and conditions, no matter how complex their needs are, and it is extremely rewarding as we make a real difference to people’s lives. Our teams are dedicated to providing our clients with a quality, professional, reliable and compassionate service so they can remain at home or in the community.

I’m Naomi Newport, Commercial Director for SNG. I have worked for the Guild since 2016. I originally joined as Business Manager for the Republic of Ireland. I then progressed to General Manager for our operations across Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. My role has now changed and I oversee our commercial teams, building relationships with new clients and improving the relationships we have with existing clients, helping us to deliver the best possible service to the healthcare sector across the UK and Ireland.  

I have over 20 years’ sales management, recruitment and operations experience from many different sectors, including telecoms and NGOs. SNG offers clients and nurses a unique service, and it is something I am very proud to be part of.

I’m Kate Nicholson-Florence, Quality Assurance Director for SNG. I started my career as a qualified paediatric nurse in 1998 and have experience in both the acute and community sector. I have been with the company since 2009, specifically working in a quality and governance role since 2021.

I am the Registered Manager for SNG in Northern Ireland, and the Responsible Individual for our Domiciliary Care Licence in Northern Ireland. I have overall responsibility for our Quality Assurance across UK and Ireland, ensuring we provide the highest quality agency workers to support clients in both hospital and community settings.

I’m Andrew Davies, Technology and Digital Products Director for SNG. I joined in 2005 as a Duty Desk Coordinator. In the subsequent years I moved through various supervisory and managerial roles, including three years managing our community care business. In 2013, I took a sideways move into Data Analytics and Technology.

In 2018, I took lead of our Technology Strategy and built a new Digital Products Team. My role has changed dramatically over two decades however I greatly value the experience of my early years as it gave me a solid understanding of the market we serve as well as some great memories of our candidates and clients.  

I manage a team who are responsible for improving our current tech platforms through designing and building applications to better support our nurses, clients, and internal staff.

I’m Alex Stewart, Head of Operations across Scotland and Ireland. I joined SNG in July 2021 and was tasked with heading up our temporary staffing and recruitment teams. I have over 10 years’ experience working in the recruitment industry. Since joining, I have since taken responsibility for our community, compliance, mental health and specialist nurse placement teams. 

I oversee all operations and my primary goal is to ensure we are providing the highest quality service to our clients and nurses.

I am Claire Turley, Sales Manager at the Scottish Nursing Guild. I recently joined the team in February 2024. My role involves managing our sales teams across Scotland and Ireland, providing coaching and mentorship to ensure exceptional customer service for both prospective and current clients.

With a diverse background spanning various industries such as advertising and apprenticeships, I bring extensive experience in building and nurturing sales teams.

I’m Conor and I joined the Scottish Nursing Guild in December 2018. I started on the Placement Team and was promoted to Team Leader in 2023. As Team Leader, I work with the Placement Team to ensure we place the right nurses, midwives and carers with clients when they need them most.