After some 17 years in the private sector, advising the NHS and successfully growing and managing a team of property, clinical planning consultants and analysts, Simon returned to the public sector in 2017 to lead the estates and facilities function across the NHS which now includes both the secondary and primary care sectors. The role at NHS England (NHSE) is one that he relishes, building on the Carter Implementation Programme and Naylor Review. Following initial success in delivering the Model Hospital and efficiency savings, he is taking forward and broadening out the NHS estates agenda. This includes, developing the workforce, the primary care estate, sustainability and ICS Infrastructure Strategies, Procure 23 and delivery of the Health Infrastructure Programmes announced by the Prime Minister in 2019. Simon led the NHS Estates response to the Covid-19 pandemic including the delivery of 7 Nightingale hospitals (in April 2020) with over 3,500 critical care beds in a matter of weeks.

Since originally joining NHS Improvement in May 2017, Simon has recruited a team aligned to the five core Initiatives, of Commercial Acumen, Workforce, Net Zero, Operational Efficiency, Standardisation, Delivery and Strategy.