The concept of a workforce development centre was devised by Health Education East of England (HEEoE) and North and South Essex Local Medical Committees (LMCs) as an innovative solution to addressing the ongoing difficulty in recruiting, developing and retaining GPs, Practice Nurses and Primary Care Staff in Essex.

Essex Primary Care Careers/EPIC is currently hosted by North East Essex CCG on behalf of 7 CCGs in Essex supporting approx. 240 individual GP practices. Its primary aim is in keeping with the GP Forward View national strategy which stresses the urgent need to increase general practice workforce, retain current staff and improve workload.

Since its development in 2015, the function had built strong relationships with stakeholders across Essex in both Healthcare and Higher Education. EPIC developed a centralised website for general practice staff careers and development; delivered recruitment fairs; promoted Essex as a prime location in which to live and work; signposted to vacancies and training and educational opportunities; improved access to peer support and networking; and promoted coaching and mentoring as well as leadership development.

Essex Primary Care Careers/EPIC is publicly funded by the East of England HEE and the local CCGs and has the obligation to its stakeholders, regulators and the public to deliver good value for money, demonstrate positive impact on general practice recruitment and retention as well as return on investment in the delivery of its strategy.