Honorary fellowship for health and social care leader

The former chief executive of Provide, John Niland, has received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Essex.

Honorary Fellowships are presented at the University's Annual Meeting to inspirational members of the community who have made outstanding contributions to the sectors covered by the University’s research and education and supported its wider work.

Dean of Integrated Health and Care Partnerships Professor Vicky Joffe said: “I am delighted to present this award to a remarkable individual whose career exemplifies the absolute best of public service, innovation, and social responsibility.

“John graduated from the University of Essex in 1985 with a degree in Government, and throughout his life and career, he has remained a proud ambassador of the University of Essex. His ongoing support for Essex and his significant impact in the health and social care sector – one of our priority areas - make him a truly deserving recipient of this award.”

As the founding Chief Executive of Provide – a community interest company based here in Colchester – John helped transform the delivery of NHS and social care services across Essex and beyond. 

Under his leadership, Provide became known as an innovator which never lost sight of the needs of service users. John helped to pioneer new ways of working, putting people at the heart of care, and demonstrating how social enterprise models can drive real public value, receiving national awards and recognition for this approach.

Even after stepping down as CEO of Provide in 2020, John has remained deeply committed to public health and holds non-executive roles across community healthcare providers. He also continues to champion the values of kindness and leadership through his work with the Useful & Kind charity.

John’s contribution goes far beyond his own organisation. His partnership with the University has opened up countless opportunities for students, researchers, and the wider community. 

Professor Joffe said: “By supporting internships, bursaries, PhD sponsorships, and ground-breaking research collaborations, John and Provide have helped our students gain real-world experience, and looked to improve care by using the latest technology from using AI to help the NHS cope with increasing demand to investigating how robots can support people in their homes.

 “These initiatives reflect everything we stand for at Essex: challenging convention, working collaboratively, and making a real difference to people’s lives.”