You do not need to be a broker, a banker, or an M&A professional. You do not need any formal qualifications. You simply need to know — or be able to find — the owners of established, profitable businesses that supply products or services to NHS hospitals.

If you introduce us to a business we go on to acquire, we pay you a finder’s fee.

What a scout does

Identifies a business that matches our acquisition criteria.
Makes an introduction between the business owner and NHMS.
Steps back. We handle everything else from that point.

What a scout does not do

You do not negotiate on our behalf.
You do not advise the business owner on whether to sell.
You do not need to conduct financial analysis or due diligence.
You do not need to invest any money.

Your role is the introduction. Our team takes it from there.

The Businesses We Want to Acquire

We are building a group of companies that supply products and services to NHS hospitals across England. We are looking for businesses that meet the following profile:

Sector

Companies that supply products or services to NHS hospitals. This includes transport and logistics, facilities and estates management, pathology and testing, clinical consumables, laundry, catering, cleaning, medical equipment maintenance, training, and many other categories.

Annual turnover

£2 million to £30 million.

Profitability

The business must be profitable. We look for a track record of at least three years of consistent earnings.

Ownership

Owner-managed. We are interested in businesses owned by their founders, families, or individual shareholders — not businesses already owned by private equity firms or large corporates.

Location

England. The business should derive the majority of its revenue from supplying NHS hospitals or NHS trusts in England.

Reason for sale

Any genuine reason. Retirement, succession planning, desire for a partner with capital, or simply wanting to realise value. We are flexible.

If you are unsure whether a business fits our criteria, get in touch. We are happy to discuss it with you confidentially, with no obligation.

Who Makes a Good Scout?

You do not need to be in the M&A industry. The best scouts are simply well-connected people who know business owners in the NHS supply chain. That might mean you are:

• An accountant or auditor who advises NHS supplier businesses.

• A solicitor who acts for SME owners in the healthcare sector.

• A retired or semi-retired business owner with contacts in the NHS supply community.

• A management consultant or interim manager who works with healthcare companies.

• A former or retired NHS procurement or supply chain professional.

• A wealth manager or financial adviser whose clients include business owners.

• Active in trade associations, chambers of commerce, or professional networks that include NHS suppliers.

• Someone who attends healthcare industry events and conferences and has built relationships with business owners over the years.

The common thread is that you know people who own businesses that supply the NHS, and you are in a position to make an introduction.

How It Works

The process is straightforward:

Register.Complete the short form at the bottom of this page. We will send you a brief outlining exactly what we are looking for, and a simple scout agreement for you to review.
Sign the agreement. The agreement is short, plain-English, and non-exclusive. You are free to work with other parties. There is no cost to you and no retainer. You are paid only if an introduction leads to a completed acquisition.
Identify a business. Using your own contacts and networks, identify a business that appears to match our criteria.
Tell us about it.Submit a short summary via email or our online form: the company name, what it does, approximate size, and your relationship to the owner. We check whether we are already in contact with that business. If we are not, we confirm the introduction is yours.
Make the introduction.Introduce us to the business owner. This can be a phone call, an email, or a meeting — whatever is most natural. Once the introduction is made, you step back.
Get paid.If we go on to acquire the business, we pay you a finder’s fee at completion. The fee is a percentage of the transaction value, agreed in advance in your scout agreement.

What You Earn

We pay a finder’s fee calculated as a percentage of the enterprise value of the acquisition. The fee is payable in cash at completion.

Enterprise Value of Acquisition

Your Finder’s Fee

Up to £5 million

3% of enterprise value

£5 million to £15 million

2% of enterprise value

Above £15 million

1.5% of enterprise value

Examples

• You introduce us to a business we acquire for £3 million. Your fee: £90,000.

• You introduce us to a business we acquire for £7 million. Your fee: £140,000.

• You introduce us to a business we acquire for £12 million. Your fee: £240,000.

Fees are payable only on successful completion. There is nothing to pay if the introduction does not lead to a deal. Your fee is protected by an 18-month tail period: if we acquire the business you introduced within 18 months of your introduction, you are paid regardless of whether your agreement is still active.

What We Offer You

No cost, no risk

There is no fee to become a scout. No retainer. No financial commitment of any kind. You are paid only when a deal completes.

Non-exclusive

You are free to work with other acquirers, advisers, or brokers. Our agreement does not restrict your other activities.

Confidentiality

Your identity and your introductions are treated in strict confidence. We do not disclose your involvement to the business owner or to anyone else without your consent.

Clear, written agreement

Everything is set out in a simple, plain-English agreement before you start. No surprises.

Tail period protection

Your introductions are protected for 18 months. If we acquire a business you introduced, even after your agreement has ended, you are paid.

A credible buyer behind you

NHMS is building a national group of NHS hospital suppliers. We have a clear acquisition strategy, an experienced leadership team, and the resources to complete transactions. When you introduce a business owner to us, you are introducing them to a serious acquirer with a genuine interest in their sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. A scout’s role is limited to making an introduction. You do not need to be FCA-authorised, and you do not need any professional qualifications. You simply need to be in a position to introduce us to a business owner.
Yes. Most scouts do this alongside their existing work. It is not a full-time role and there are no minimum activity requirements. You simply make introductions when opportunities arise.
No problem. We will review every introduction and let you know whether the business is of interest. If it is not, there is no penalty. You can continue to introduce other businesses.
Before we confirm an introduction as yours, we check our records. If we are already in contact with the business or it is already in our pipeline, we will let you know promptly. No fee would be payable in that case. This is set out clearly in the scout agreement.
If we acquire the business you introduced, your fee is payable within 30 days of completion. Acquisitions typically take between 3 and 12 months from first meeting to completion, depending on complexity.
No. You may introduce as many businesses as you wish.
We handle the disclosure. Our agreement with you and our conduct with the business owner are both transparent and compliant with UK law. You do not need to negotiate anything with the business owner on our behalf.
Yes. Our arrangement is non-exclusive. You are entirely free to work with other parties.
We are unable to appoint serving NHS employees as scouts. If you have recently left NHS employment, please get in touch and we can discuss whether the arrangement would be appropriate in your circumstances.
Our scout arrangements are structured to fall within a recognised exemption under UK financial regulation. Scouts make introductions only and do not carry out any regulated activity. Our agreements are reviewed by legal professionals to ensure compliance.

Important notice

The information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to the public or a solicitation to invest. Any investment opportunity related to The NHMS will be discussed privately and only with eligible investors (such as self-certified sophisticated investors or high net worth individuals) in compliance with UK financial regulations. Past performance (if referenced) is not indicative of future results, and all investments carry risk. Prospective investors should consider their own investment objectives and seek advice from an authorised financial advisor if in doubt.

Earn a Finder’s Fee.

Help Us Find Great NHS Supplier Businesses to Acquire.

If you know the owners of profitable companies that supply NHS hospitals, we’d like to hear from you.

What Is a Scout?

What a scout does

What a scout does not do

The Businesses We Want to Acquire

Who Makes a Good Scout?

How It Works

What You Earn

Examples

What We Offer You

No cost, no risk

Non-exclusive

Confidentiality

Clear, written agreement

Tail period protection

A credible buyer behind you

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any qualifications or licences?

Can I be a scout if I am employed full-time?

What if the business I introduce does not match your criteria?

What if you are already in contact with the business?

How long does it take to get paid?

Is there a limit on how many introductions I can make?

Do I need to tell the business owner that I am being paid a fee?

Can I work with other acquirers at the same time?

What if I am a serving NHS employee?

Is this regulated by the FCA?