LowmarLowmarOver 35 years of health and social care experience. Support for leaders and organisations who need more than good advice - they need someone who has actually been there.
Whether you need a one-off sounding board or structured support over several months, there's a straightforward way in.
Arrange a free 30-minute callWho this is for
If you work in health or social care - whether you're a manager, trustee, commissioner or senior leader - and you've reached a point where you could do with someone experienced to think things through with, you're in the right place.
Lowmar works with people and organisations across children's services, adult services, the NHS, local authorities, and the voluntary and private care sector. The common thread isn't the type of organisation - it's the complexity of what you're dealing with.
Three ways in
A 45-minute call to share out loud a question, challenge, or decision you need help thinking through. No ongoing commitment - just a focused conversation with someone who knows this sector inside out.
→ Find out more about Sounding Board sessionsA structured space to reflect, build confidence, and develop your thinking - for leaders at any stage who want to get better at what they do.
→ Find out more about Coaching & MentoringBespoke, project-based support for organisations working through complexity - strategic planning, governance, change management, and more.
→ Find out more about Consultancy
Why Sharon
Sharon Martin founded Lowmar after over 35 years working across health and social care - from nursing and care management through to senior national roles at the Department of Health and Social Care.
She has worked in children's services, adult services, the voluntary sector, the NHS, and central government - at both local and national level. Working across these sectors has given her insight from across whole systems, rather than a single organisational perspective. She understands that while organisations differ, many of the challenges they face are remarkably similar. This breadth of experience enables her to see opportunities, connections and practical solutions that others can sometimes miss.
Lowmar is based in East Yorkshire and happy to work with organisations and individuals across the region and beyond.
Read Sharon's full storyFrom the first meeting, I was amazed at how much Sharon took on board. She helped turn chaos into a clear plan and supported us to rethink our approach. We now feel more organised, more positive, and would absolutely recommend her. - Chair of Trustees, local charity supporting young people
Start with a free, no-obligation 30-minute call. We'll work out together whether Lowmar is the right fit.
Arrange a free 30-minute callI spent over 35 years working in health and social care before setting up Lowmar at the start of 2026. During my career, I've been a registered nurse, a care manager, a commissioner, a national commercial lead - and a lot of things in between. I've worked in a children's charity and in central government. I've led frontline services, managed and supported teams, been a part of an All-Party Parliamentary Group and sat in ministerial briefings. All this has given me a broad perspective on how organisations work and what helps them thrive.
When I left my last role at the Department of Health and Social Care, I knew I wanted to do something that felt a bit closer to the ground again - working directly with the people who are actually delivering services and making a difference in the lives of others.
Lowmar is the result.
I don't pretend to have all the answers.
What I do bring is a wealth of experience, fresh perspective and thoughtful challenge, together with a good eye for what's really going on beneath the surface. I'm also told I have a way of making complicated things feel more manageable.
If that sounds useful, I'd love to have a conversation.
Arrange a free 30-minute callExperience
Set up Lowmar to offer practical, bespoke consultancy, coaching and mentoring to people and organisations in health and social care. Current work also includes independent Regulation 44 visits to children's homes, providing constructive challenge, independent assurance and supporting continuous improvement.
Head of Sector Insights and Commercial Strategy / Policy Implementation Commercial Lead for Adult Social Care and ICBs. Four years in national policy, overseeing adult social care markets, provider sustainability, and major strategic supplier programmes.
National commissioning of specialist child contact services and the separated parents programme for children and families in the family courts. Worked alongside over 50 voluntary sector providers; redesigned the contract management approach from adversarial to collaborative; led on full-service review and redesign of the child contact contract.
Led commissioning of all external placements and services across children's social care and education, and joint commissioning with health partners. Managed multi-million-pound budgets and led a high performing team of 15+ staff. Completed an MSc in Public Management alongside the role.
Led the local implementation of the national Aiming High for Disabled Children programme. Established a Parent Carer Forum and embedded co-production into commissioning.
Led and managed a number of contracted services for disabled children, young carers and families across multiple funding streams.
Complex assessments and personalised support packages for disabled children and families.
Three years' training qualifying as a Registered Nurse (Mental Handicap) in 1991, followed by practice in hospital and community settings.
Breadth
Few people have worked across as many parts of the health and social care system. That breadth gives me a wider perspective and helps me recognise patterns, connections and possibilities that can easily be missed when you've only seen one part of the system.
Qualifications
Testimonials
From the first meeting, I was amazed at how much Sharon took on board. She helped turn chaos into a clear plan and supported us to rethink our approach. We now feel more organised, more positive, and would absolutely recommend her.- Chair of Trustees, local charity supporting young people
Sharon helped me feel completely comfortable talking through my uncertainties and anxieties at work. She helped me shift my focus onto what I can control, which has made a huge difference to my mindset. I feel calmer, more in control, and better equipped to handle challenges.- Middle manager, national children's organisation
I wasn't sure what I needed going in, but Sharon quickly helped me get clear on what the real issue was and what to do about it. An hour well spent.- Senior manager, national role
Or explore how we might work together:
Sounding Board (£70 / 45 mins) Coaching & Mentoring Consultancy
Consultancy
Health and social care organisations are working under real pressure - stretched budgets, complex governance, workforce challenges, and the constant demand to deliver more with less. It's hard to think clearly when you're in the middle of it.
This is where Lowmar comes in.
Arrange a free 30-minute callWhat consultancy looks like
There's no off-the-shelf package here. Every piece of work starts with listening - understanding what's really happening, not just what's been written in the brief. From there, support is shaped around what you actually need.
Lowmar works alongside organisations to bring clarity, structure and forward momentum - whether that's supporting a senior team over a period of time, facilitating a key session, or helping to work through a specific challenge.
Your way forward - through connection, collaboration and clearer thinking
Engagements can be face-to-face, remote, or a mix of both.
Areas of support
If what you need isn't on the list, it's still worth a conversation. Every piece of work is shaped around your situation rather than a predefined package.
From the first meeting, I was amazed at how much Sharon took on board. She helped turn chaos into a clear plan and supported us to rethink our approach. We now feel more organised, more positive, and would absolutely recommend her.- Chair of Trustees, local charity supporting young people
Led by Sharon Martin - with 35+ years of senior leadership experience across health, local government, central government, and the voluntary sector.
Read Sharon's full storyNot sure you need a full piece of work?
45 minutes, £70, no ongoing commitment - just a focused conversation about the thing that's on your mind.
About Sounding Board sessionsSend me a message to arrange a free, no-obligation 30-minute call and tell me what you're working through.
Arrange a free 30-minute callCoaching & Mentoring
Leadership can feel very lonely. There's plenty of demand on your time and your decisions, but not always somewhere to pause, gain perspective and talk things through honestly with someone who isn't part of the situation.
That's what Lowmar offers.
Arrange a free 30-minute callWhat to expect
Pure coaching is about drawing the answers out of you. Pure mentoring is about sharing experience and guidance. In reality, most people working in health and social care can benefit from a blend of both - and that's what you'll get here.
Sessions are conversational and purposeful. Sharon listens carefully, asks the right questions and, where helpful, shares relevant experience and perspective from her own career. The focus is always on clarity, confidence and action - not dependence.
Sessions are shaped around what works for you and are usually delivered online.
Who it's for
People at different stages, with different needs:
You don't need to arrive with a clear agenda. Most people come knowing they need space to talk something through, and the shape of the work becomes clearer as you go.
Sharon helped me feel completely comfortable talking through my uncertainties and anxieties at work. She helped me shift my focus onto what I can control, which has made a huge difference to my mindset. I feel calmer, more in control, and better equipped to handle challenges.- Middle manager, national children's organisation
Led by Sharon Martin - with 35+ years of senior leadership experience, including a Level 5 coaching qualification and direct experience of the pressures facing health and social care leaders at every level.
Read Sharon's full storyWant to try before committing?
45 minutes, £70, no ongoing commitment.
About Sounding Board sessionsThe first step is a free 30-minute call - informal, no obligation.
Arrange a free 30-minute callSounding Board
£70 | 45 minutes | No ongoing commitment
Sometimes you don't need a consultant on retainer or a coaching programme. You just need to talk something through with someone experienced - someone who understands the sector, won't be fazed by complexity, and can help you think more clearly.
That's the Sounding Board.
Arrange a free 30-minute callWhat it is
You bring a question, a challenge, a decision, or a 'where do I even start with this?'. Sharon brings over 35 years of experience working across health and social care - and the full session is yours.
It might be about a strategic problem you're trying to unpick. A team issue you've been going round in circles on. A career decision. A governance question. A piece of work you want a second opinion on. There's no fixed agenda - if it's related to health or social care, it's fair game.
By the end of the sounding board session, most people have a clearer sense of what they're actually dealing with and what to do next. Some people book another session a few weeks later. Many leave with exactly what they needed.
The small print, plainly stated
This isn't the right option for organisations who need structured, project-based consultancy support - the Consultancy page covers that. But if you're a leader or manager who just needs some time with an experienced, independent sounding board, this is it.
I wasn't sure what I needed going in, but Sharon quickly helped me get clear on what the real issue was and what to do about it. An hour well spent.- Senior manager, national role
We'll make sure a Sounding Board session is the right fit before you commit to anything.
Get startedThe easiest first step is always the same: send me a message and we'll arrange a free 30-minute call. We'll have an informal conversation, you can talk through what you're looking for, and we'll work out together whether Lowmar is the right fit.
There's no obligation and no hard sell. If I'm not the right person to help, I'll say so - and where possible, I'll point you in a better direction.
Send a message
If you'd like to have a conversation, just send me a message and we'll arrange a free 30-minute call to explore what you're looking for and whether Lowmar can help.
Quick links
Sounding Board (£70 / 45 minutes) Coaching & Mentoring Consultancy
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