Apprentices without masters: Building systems thinking practice capability through collective inquiry in NHS England

When systems thinking expertise was largely absent from our organisation, as a group of apprentices from different parts of the organisation, we created our own learning environment system. Together, we built a community of practice that translated theory into action, developed practitioner identity and began embedding systems thinking across NHS England. Our central argument is simple: developing systems thinking practitioners is not just about teaching methods—it's about building the relationships, spaces and shared experiences that allow new ways of thinking to take root. It's about building momentum and a movement.  Workshop/masterclass session proposal: The interactive session would explore how systems thinking capability can grow when experienced practitioners are scarce in the workplace. Drawing on the experience of NHS England systems thinking apprentices, it will show how a peer-led community of practice helped translate theory into practice, build practitioner identity and support the early embedding of systems thinking across the organisation. Participants will reflect on their own contexts, identify the conditions that enable peer learning to become a mechanism for capability-building, and consider how to move from individual development to building a wider movement for systems practice.