Building a Next-Gen Locum Platform
Revolutionising career searches by providing locums with jobs custom-tailored to their needs — replacing slow paperwork with a smart, user-centric experience.
Overview
During the 2020 pandemic, healthcare changed overnight. As workflows grew more complex, demand for flexible locum work surged — and with it, an opening for digital transformation.
HireCreed, a UK-based online locum platform, was built to bridge healthcare professionals and providers. The result was a 34.6% lift in task efficiency compared to competitor applications.
Understanding
the problem
We dug into how the UK locum market actually operates day to day — from old-school paperwork to the gaps left by existing platforms.
And many more...
Key findings from initial research:
- On average ~11.3% of requested NHS shifts went unfilled across 2019–2021.
- Mean weekly shifts per trust rose by 19% (175.2 → 208.6).
- Mean weekly unfilled shifts per trust rose 54% (32.7 → 50.4).
- NHS faces a shortage of ~84,000 staff across hospitals and community services.
- Around 40,000–60,000 locum GPs operate in the UK alone.
- Demand is rising across radiography, sonography and radiology.
Competitive Analysis
HireCreed wasn't a brand-new idea — it was a rethink of existing solutions. Most competing platforms had weak communication, poor filtering, outdated UI and gaps in locum auditing.
Each of those weaknesses was a potential USP. We mapped them against the real day-to-day challenges locums and businesses faced — slow paper processes, delayed payments, hard-to-find shifts and last-minute cover.
Weaknesses across competing platforms
- Limited communication with locums and vendors.
- Safety risks due to inadequate locum auditing by some vendors.
- Ineffective locum marketplace.
- Insufficient filtering options.
- Accessibility and responsiveness issues.
- Outdated and complex UI.
- Lack of established rules or precautions to build mutual trust.
Real challenges locums & businesses face
- Finding shifts is difficult due to location, availability and personal preferences.
- Digital platforms lack enough shifts, key features and proper security.
- Agencies relying on traditional paperwork make the hiring process slow and frustrating.
- Payments often get delayed, even on digital platforms.
- Finding skilled and reliable locums online is a real struggle.
- Paper-based processes are outdated and slow things down.
- Manually handling shifts leads to errors and extra work.
- Difficulties in keeping track of shifts and essential analytics.
- Challenges associated with auditing and verifying locums.
- Finding last-minute replacements for urgent shifts is a real challenge.
Ideation & Proposed Solution
HireCreed is a central hub connecting locums and businesses on an automated platform, paired with an Admin panel for HC agents to verify users and support both sides.
Product
Locum Mobile App
Portable, friendly mobile experience for locums to find and manage shifts on the go.
Product
Business Web App
Designed for desk and tablet use by clinics and agencies posting and managing shifts.
Product
Admin Panel
Internal tool for HireCreed agents to verify locums, monitor the platform and handle support.
Key features identified from research
Information Architecture & User Flows
Design System & Branding
The HireCreed mark visualises the collaboration of two parties — locum and business — working in harmony. Side-by-side staircases symbolise the joint effort behind the platform.
With branding guidelines set, we built the design system from the basic components outward, evolving alongside the product as new flows came online.
Design system
Locum Mobile App
Effortless Registration
Simple registration that only asks for what matters at first. New users get guided through the rest with tooltips and progressive disclosure, so onboarding never feels heavy.
Home Screen Customisation
The home screen surfaces the nearest or currently booked shift with a countdown so locums can prepare ahead of time, plus quick access to job alerts.
Smart Job Notifications
Notifications fire based on a locum's preferences so they can act fast and never miss the most relevant opportunities.
Subscription Reminders
Free users hit feature limits, not a paywall. Tiered subscriptions unlock more without ever locking the core app, keeping locums in flow.
Find Jobs & My Jobs
'Find Jobs' lets locums explore, save favourites and view personal offers. 'My Jobs' tracks every booked, completed and upcoming shift.
Cancellation Policies
Clear, fair cancellation rules and penalties keep both sides protected — locums know what to expect and businesses keep cover reliable.
Business Web App
Shift management, calendar view, duplicated shifts and offers, role-based access for Owner/Admin/Staff, plus a beta analytics layer — built for desk and tablet use.
Personalised Offers
Businesses craft personalised offers in the web app; locums see and accept them inside the mobile app — a single, connected handshake.
Rate Negotiation
Prototype for negotiating or re-negotiating shift rates between locums and businesses, kept in one continuous thread.
Date Adjustments
Locums can shift dates by messaging the business directly; businesses send updated offers right back over chat.
Admin Panel
Locum verification, document handling and a lightweight ticketing system so the HireCreed team can move quickly across both sides of the marketplace.
Landing Pages
A modern, vibrant brand site that surfaces the mobile app, generates leads and leaves room for HireCreed to expand into other job sectors.
