On the face of it, the Strategy Unit does many things. In reality, only do one thing help NHS organisations make better decisions.

So we’re delighted to be playing a central role in the evolution of strategic commissioning. Acting as the Strategic Commissioning Intelligence Centre (SCIC), we will be supporting Integrated Care Boards (ICB) to produce and use high-quality evidence in their decision making.

Working as part of a broader programme of support – coordinated by NHS England - the SCIC will focus primarily on ICB Intelligence Functions.

SCIC will support analysts – of many types and from many disciplines – to produce insights for improving population outcomes. It will provide guides, events, networks and tools. It will showcase practice across ICBs, supporting peer learning and creating the conditions for analytical excellence. It will provide technical support, and it will aid the development of craft skills.

SCIC will also support decision makers.Our experience shows that there is a frequently overlooked, but crucial part of the equation: helping decision makers to use evidence in their work. And so, building on previous work, we will provide development sessions and support for people usin insights from analysis.

In combination, this work will help strategic commissioners make best use of the resources available to them in their mission to improve population health.  

Our starting point is ICB’s plans for, and current position of, their intelligence functions. How are they positioned with the overall organisation? Which analytical disciplines are present in the intelligence function? How will staffing be structured? What does professional leadership look like? How will the function relate to commissioners within the ICB? What are the margins for development, and how might the SCIC be able to help?

We will shortly begin engaging with the ICBs on these questions. And we will structure our support using the findings. SCIC will be successful to the extent that it understands and meets the needs of ICBs and their intelligence functions.  

This is an exciting time to be doing analytical work within the NHS. In many ways, it is central to the ambitions for ICBs and strategic commissioning.  

Join us for the launch

To mark the launch of the Strategic Commissioning Intelligence Centre, we're hosting an online event bringing together colleagues from NHS England, Integrated Care Boards and partner organisations.

The session will introduce the vision for strategic commissioning, explore the growing role of intelligence in improving decision making, and outline how the SCIC will support analysts, commissioners and intelligence teams through networks, events, guidance and shared learning.

You'll hear from:

  • Rachel McIlroy, System Implementation Lead, NHS England
  • Hannah Iqbal, Chief Strategy & Commissioning Officer, Thames Valley ICB
  • Jake Abbas, Chief Analyst, Humber and North Yorkshire ICB
  • Clare Humble, Director, Strategic Commissioning Intelligence Centre, Strategy Unit

The event will be chaired by Fraser Battye, Head of Policy at the Strategy Unit.

Date: Thursday 13th August 2026

Time: 10:00-11:00

Online – MS Teams

Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c1cf0eba-d723-425a-8bd1-8ef7c186840d@37c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3

Whether you're producing analysis or using it to inform commissioning decisions, this event will explore why intelligence is becoming increasingly central to strategic commissioning and what support will be available through the SCIC.

If you are interested in finding out more about the SCIC please contact clare.humble@nhs.net