In conversation with Nicola Payne about the Innovation Hub
From The MacIntyre Podcast by MacIntyre Families
January 18, 2026 · 26 min · Season 6 · Episode 1
About this episode
Nicola Payne discusses her journey with MacIntyre and the launch of the Innovation Hub focused on self-advocacy and co-production.
In this episode, we are joined by a familiar voice at MacIntyre: Nicola Payne, former podcast host and now Best Practice Manager, to talk about her 20-year journey with the organisation and the launch of an ambitious new way of working, the Innovation Hub. Nicola reflects on starting out as a support worker in Milton Keynes moving through roles in our community coffee shop, dementia-focused project work, family engagement, and eventually into strategic best practice. A clear thread runs through her story: learning. From picking up new skills on the frontline to seeking out specialist knowledge and bringing it back into practice, Nicola describes a career shaped by curiosity and courage. The conversation then turns to the Innovation Hub, a dedicated space designed to help MacIntyre focus on change more deliberately and collaboratively. Rather than lots of disconnected initiatives happening in parallel, the Hub provides a structured, joined-up approach to projects, allowing ideas to be tested, refined, and learned from (even when things don’t go quite to plan). Nicola is open about the importance of allowing room for mistakes, reflection, and honesty, and how this culture of trust…
People in this episode
Guest: Nicola Payne
Topics covered
- innovation
- self-advocacy
- co-production
- learning disabilities
- organizational change
Keywords
- Innovation Hub
- Nicola Payne
- MacIntyre
- learning disabilities
- self-advocacy
- co-production
- organizational change
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: MacIntyre
Places: Milton Keynes
More episodes of The MacIntyre Podcast
- In conversation about Positive Behaviour Support · May 26, 2026 · 45 min
- In conversation with Beth Britton · April 30, 2026 · 31 min
- In conversation with Matty Caine about mental health · March 9, 2026 · 25 min
- In conversation about Homes not Hospitals · December 8, 2025 · 27 min
- In conversation with Stuart Sale from Ann Craft Trust · November 17, 2025 · 12 min
- Safeguarding across Wales and England · November 13, 2025 · 24 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The MacIntyre Podcast podcast page.