60 Seconds with Rachel Mearns

Tuesday 20 January 2026

Tell us about your role and your organisation

I am the Founder and Managing Director of Concept Occupational Health and a Specialist Occupational Health Nurse. Concept Occupational Health is a nurse‑led occupational health provider established in early 2024, delivering services across Northern Ireland, Ireland, and the UK. We support employers with sickness absence management, health surveillance, employee health checks, stress and wellbeing support, counselling, and physiotherapy, with a strong focus on practical, responsive, and high‑quality service delivery.

Give us a brief overview of your career journey so far

I began my nursing career in 2008 and moved into occupational health in 2015. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience working across the UK and internationally, which has allowed me to develop a broad understanding of occupational health across different sectors and settings. Identifying a gap in the local market for a clinician‑led, locally delivered service inspired me to establish Concept Occupational Health, combining local knowledge with wider experience.

What is one skill that helps you most in your role and why?

Adaptability. Occupational health is constantly evolving, and the ability to adapt quickly - whether to changing business needs, employee health concerns, or service demands - allows me to provide effective, tailored solutions for clients while growing the business sustainably.

What advice do you have for women in your industry?

Trust your clinical judgement and your experience - even when you’re the only one in the room. You don’t need to have everything perfectly mapped out before you start; confidence often comes from doing, not waiting.

Are there any exciting plans in the year ahead for your organisation?

Yes - the focus this year is on continued growth, expanding our client base across Ireland and the UK, and further developing our multidisciplinary services to ensure employers and employees receive comprehensive, high‑quality occupational health support.

Who has been your biggest career inspiration and why?

My biggest career inspiration has always been my own mother. She was also a nurse and had a phenomenal nursing career, not only in clinical practice but later as a representative for nurses, advocating for and supporting them during challenging times through her work with the Royal College of Nursing.

She achieved all of this while also being a mother, a provider, and a carer - running a household and somehow managing three unruly teenagers along the way. Watching her balance compassion, strength, and determination left a lasting impression on me.

If, at the end of my career, I can look back and know that I’ve built the same reputation, earned the same respect, and been held in the same regard as she was, I would be very proud and very happy.

If you had to pick your soundtrack song to get you through the working day, what would it be?

Schoolyard Days – Amble. It’s gentle, reflective, and grounding - the kind of song that carries you through a busy working day without rushing you.

How can members connect with you?

Members can connect with me on LinkedIn, by email at rachel@conceptoh.co.uk, or through Concept Occupational Health’s website at www.conceptoh.co.uk. I’m always happy to connect, share experiences, or chat about occupational health, business, or career development.

Tuesday 20 January 2026