diff --git a/src/ess/reduce/nexus/__init__.py b/src/ess/reduce/nexus/__init__.py
index 7785bec0..c310ca4a 100644
--- a/src/ess/reduce/nexus/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ess/reduce/nexus/__init__.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
     load_all_components,
     load_component,
     load_data,
+    load_from_path,
     open_component_group,
     open_nexus_file,
 )
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
     'load_all_components',
     'load_component',
     'load_data',
+    'load_from_path',
     'open_component_group',
     'open_nexus_file',
     'types',
diff --git a/src/ess/reduce/nexus/_nexus_loader.py b/src/ess/reduce/nexus/_nexus_loader.py
index b4375f74..1887d69c 100644
--- a/src/ess/reduce/nexus/_nexus_loader.py
+++ b/src/ess/reduce/nexus/_nexus_loader.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from contextlib import AbstractContextManager, contextmanager, nullcontext
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from math import prod
-from typing import TypeVar, cast
+from typing import Any, TypeVar, cast
 
 import scipp as sc
 import scippnexus as snx
@@ -42,6 +42,31 @@ def __repr__(self) -> str:
 NoLockingIfNeeded = NoLockingIfNeededType()
 
 
+def load_from_path(
+    location: NeXusLocationSpec,
+    definitions: Mapping | NoNewDefinitionsType = NoNewDefinitions,
+) -> Any:
+    """Load a field or group from a NeXus file given its location.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    location:
+        Location of the field within the NeXus file (filename, entry name, selection).
+    definitions:
+        Application definitions to use for the file.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    :
+        The loaded field (as a variable, data array, or raw python object) or group
+        (as a data group).
+    """
+    with open_nexus_file(location.filename, definitions=definitions) as f:
+        entry = _unique_child_group(f, snx.NXentry, location.entry_name)
+        item = entry[location.component_name]
+        return item[location.selection]
+
+
 def load_component(
     location: NeXusLocationSpec,
     *,
diff --git a/src/ess/reduce/nexus/workflow.py b/src/ess/reduce/nexus/workflow.py
index 03a4ae75..81142865 100644
--- a/src/ess/reduce/nexus/workflow.py
+++ b/src/ess/reduce/nexus/workflow.py
@@ -691,16 +691,12 @@ def LoadMonitorWorkflow(
 
 
 def LoadDetectorWorkflow(
-    *,
-    run_types: Iterable[sciline.typing.Key],
-    monitor_types: Iterable[sciline.typing.Key],
+    *, run_types: Iterable[sciline.typing.Key]
 ) -> sciline.Pipeline:
     """Generic workflow for loading detector data from a NeXus file."""
     wf = sciline.Pipeline(
         (*_common_providers, *_detector_providers),
-        constraints=_gather_constraints(
-            run_types=run_types, monitor_types=monitor_types
-        ),
+        constraints=_gather_constraints(run_types=run_types, monitor_types=[]),
     )
     wf[DetectorBankSizes] = DetectorBankSizes({})
     wf[PreopenNeXusFile] = PreopenNeXusFile(False)
diff --git a/tests/nexus/workflow_test.py b/tests/nexus/workflow_test.py
index 3b75dbe7..4e64396a 100644
--- a/tests/nexus/workflow_test.py
+++ b/tests/nexus/workflow_test.py
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
+import sciline as sl
 import scipp as sc
 import scippnexus as snx
 from scipp.testing import assert_identical
 
-from ess.reduce.nexus import compute_component_position, workflow
+from ess.reduce.nexus import compute_component_position, load_from_path, workflow
 from ess.reduce.nexus.types import (
     BackgroundRun,
     Beamline,
@@ -21,6 +22,8 @@
     Measurement,
     MonitorType,
     NeXusComponentLocationSpec,
+    NeXusFileSpec,
+    NeXusLocationSpec,
     NeXusName,
     NeXusTransformation,
     PreopenNeXusFile,
@@ -577,7 +580,7 @@ def test_load_histogram_monitor_workflow(dream_coda_test_file: Path) -> None:
 
 
 def test_load_detector_workflow(loki_tutorial_sample_run_60250: Path) -> None:
-    wf = LoadDetectorWorkflow(run_types=[SampleRun], monitor_types=[])
+    wf = LoadDetectorWorkflow(run_types=[SampleRun])
     wf[Filename[SampleRun]] = loki_tutorial_sample_run_60250
     wf[NeXusName[snx.NXdetector]] = 'larmor_detector'
     da = wf.compute(RawDetector[SampleRun])
@@ -587,7 +590,7 @@ def test_load_detector_workflow(loki_tutorial_sample_run_60250: Path) -> None:
 
 
 def test_load_histogram_detector_workflow(tbl_commissioning_orca_file: Path) -> None:
-    wf = LoadDetectorWorkflow(run_types=[SampleRun], monitor_types=[])
+    wf = LoadDetectorWorkflow(run_types=[SampleRun])
     wf[Filename[SampleRun]] = tbl_commissioning_orca_file
     wf[NeXusName[snx.NXdetector]] = 'orca_detector'
     da = wf.compute(RawDetector[SampleRun])
@@ -600,7 +603,7 @@ def test_load_histogram_detector_workflow(tbl_commissioning_orca_file: Path) ->
 def test_load_empty_histogram_detector_workflow(
     tbl_commissioning_orca_file: Path,
 ) -> None:
-    wf = LoadDetectorWorkflow(run_types=[SampleRun], monitor_types=[])
+    wf = LoadDetectorWorkflow(run_types=[SampleRun])
     wf[Filename[SampleRun]] = tbl_commissioning_orca_file
     wf[NeXusName[snx.NXdetector]] = 'orca_detector'
     da = wf.compute(EmptyDetector[SampleRun])
@@ -776,3 +779,48 @@ def assert_not_contains_type_arg(node: object, excluded: set[type]) -> None:
     assert not any(
         arg in excluded for arg in getattr(node, "__args__", ())
     ), f"Node {node} contains one of {excluded!r}"
+
+
+def test_generic_nexus_workflow_load_custom_field_user_affiliation(
+    loki_tutorial_sample_run_60250: Path,
+) -> None:
+    class UserAffiliation(sl.Scope[RunType, str], str):
+        """User affiliation."""
+
+    def load_user_affiliation(
+        file: NeXusFileSpec[RunType], path: NeXusName[UserAffiliation[RunType]]
+    ) -> UserAffiliation[RunType]:
+        return UserAffiliation[RunType](
+            load_from_path(NeXusLocationSpec(filename=file.value, component_name=path))
+        )
+
+    wf = GenericNeXusWorkflow(run_types=[SampleRun], monitor_types=[])
+    wf.insert(load_user_affiliation)
+    wf[Filename[SampleRun]] = loki_tutorial_sample_run_60250
+    # Path is relative to the top-level '/entry'
+    wf[NeXusName[UserAffiliation[SampleRun]]] = 'user_0/affiliation'
+    affiliation = wf.compute(UserAffiliation[SampleRun])
+    assert affiliation == 'ESS'
+
+
+def test_generic_nexus_workflow_load_custom_group_user(
+    loki_tutorial_sample_run_60250: Path,
+) -> None:
+    class UserInfo(sl.Scope[RunType, str], str):
+        """User info."""
+
+    def load_user_info(
+        file: NeXusFileSpec[RunType], path: NeXusName[UserInfo[RunType]]
+    ) -> UserInfo[RunType]:
+        return UserInfo[RunType](
+            load_from_path(NeXusLocationSpec(filename=file.value, component_name=path))
+        )
+
+    wf = GenericNeXusWorkflow(run_types=[SampleRun], monitor_types=[])
+    wf.insert(load_user_info)
+    wf[Filename[SampleRun]] = loki_tutorial_sample_run_60250
+    # Path is relative to the top-level '/entry'
+    wf[NeXusName[UserInfo]] = 'user_0'
+    user_info = wf.compute(UserInfo[SampleRun])
+    assert user_info['affiliation'] == 'ESS'
+    assert user_info['name'] == 'John Doe'