About

Louise Pramas, founder of Yew Thrive

MA, FCIPD, ILM7. More than 18 years of senior leadership in the NHS in England, specialising in organisational development, staff experience, positive people management and culture transformation. Now working directly with organisations that want their workplaces to be better.

18+ years: Senior leadership in the NHS in England
6,000+: Learners reached worldwide through eLearning she designed
National: Contribution to NHS workforce and culture policy

Why this work

Why Louise does this work

Louise's earliest NHS role set the bar high. Her manager and director trusted her, encouraged her ideas, made time to hear what she was noticing and opened doors to other people and areas of work. Later, as part of an NHS senior leadership team, she experienced how honest debate, skilful challenge and strong relationships could lead to better decisions while leaving positive working relationships intact.

Those experiences showed her that excellent workplace cultures do not happen by accident. They are built through high trust, autonomy and accountability; challenge that is welcomed and managed with skill; support for new ideas; and space for genuine human connection.

They are fundamental to why she created Yew Thrive. Louise knows it is possible to create positive workplaces that enhance people's lives while delivering great services, innovation and financial aspirations — and to help organisations build the capability to sustain that culture themselves.

Experience

Senior leadership and organisational culture experience

Louise spent more than 18 years in senior leadership positions in the NHS in England, focused on improving staff experience, positive people management and organisational development. She left a national culture transformation role at NHS England to create Yew Thrive.

National culture transformation and policy work

At NHS England, Louise's role focused on supporting organisational and Integrated Care System culture transformation journeys using evidence-based tools and approaches, coaching senior leaders, and delivering development activity to support sustainable culture change underpinned by national policy. She coached programme leads and facilitated workshops to build team connectivity and collaboration, and to co-design cultural visions and supporting behaviours with organisations.

She contributed to the development of national policy, including:

The NHS People Plan for England
The NHS 10-Year Workforce Plan for England
The NHS Staff Standards for England, published 2026

Louise has also led the revisions to the NHS Culture and Leadership Programme since 2020.

Learning at scale

A strong believer in sustainable skills development, Louise has designed and facilitated online learning events and communities of practice, and designed and built eLearning courses accessed by more than 6,000 learners worldwide — sharing learning across the system so colleagues felt more confident and able to take action on their own organisational culture.

Approach

How Louise works with people

Yew Thrive works with people, not on people. Louise is an enabler, facilitator and expert partner rather than someone who arrives to fix an organisation. That means starting by understanding what is really happening, involving the people who live it, and building the confidence and capability to move forward.

It also means honesty. Compassionate workplaces still need difficult conversations, accountability and challenge. Creating a safe space is not about avoiding hard things; it is what makes hard things possible to discuss.

Clients work directly with Louise. She designs the work and delivers it herself, which keeps it personal and keeps her accountable for how it goes.

In clients' words

“Calm, astute and empathetic style. Empathic and compassionate listener who created a space where I felt comfortable to open up.”

Coaching client

“Louise excelled at building relationship. Open, honest communication and positive throughout.”

Coaching client

“I have been very impressed by Louise and would recommend her to anyone.”

Coaching client

The Yew Thrive story

Why Yew Thrive is called Yew Thrive

Yew Thrive began beneath the boughs of an ancient yew tree at Kingley Vale, just north of Chichester and a short drive from where Louise lives.

Many trees, as they age and their branches grow heavier, reach down and touch the ground. Oaks do it to prop themselves up. Yew trees do it and create the next generation: new trees sprout where the branches meet the earth, and that generation does the same again, forming living circles of renewal around the original tree. It is part of why yews are associated with longevity, transformation and rebirth.

That is the idea Yew Thrive carries into workplaces. Growth is not linear. It is cyclical, adaptive and connected — and organisations, like yews, can renew themselves from what is already there.

There is a play on words at the heart of it, too. Yew Thrive is ultimately about you thriving: in your work, your leadership, your team and your future.

An ancient yew tree with low branches touching the woodland floor at Kingley Vale in West Sussex

Credibility

Qualifications and professional standing

MA in Human Resource Management
FCIPD — Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
ILM Level 7 Certificate for Executive and Senior Level Coaches and Mentors
More than 18 years in senior NHS leadership roles in England
National culture transformation experience at NHS England
Contributor to national NHS workforce and culture policy
eLearning designer, with courses accessed by 6,000+ learners worldwide

Where Yew Thrive works

Based in West Sussex, England, working with organisations across the South East, London and beyond. Coaching, facilitation, consultancy and learning support can be delivered in person, remotely or in a blended way.

Connect on LinkedIn or read Louise's writing on culture and leadership.

Let's talk

If any of this resonates, let's have a conversation.

No pitch, no pressure. Just a conversation about what is happening in your organisation and whether Yew Thrive could help.

Book a conversation Email Louise