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Eligibility & Selection criteria

The Innovation Fellowship is aimed at NHS intrapreneurs with a product or service at proof-of-concept stage. To ensure we can provide the best guidance and tailor the programme to each Fellow’s individual needs, we are looking for applicants that meet the following criteria.

Applications are now closed.

Application criteria

  • Currently working in an organisation providing or commissioning NHS services (Primary Care, Secondary Care, Community Care or Mental Health services) within North Central London, North East London or Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Systems. See if your place of work is eligible here.
  • NHS clinical or non-clinical staff at any level – including clinicians, project managers and IT staff
  • To have developed an innovation with a technology element, such as devices, digital apps, IT platforms, services, pathways or models of care.
  • At proof-of-concept stage with evidence of its use in practice. For this Fellowship ‘Proof of Concept’ is defined as the initial presentation of the product/innovation/pathway change and its potential viability. That is, its use in practice in the NHS in at least one site, demonstrating its ability to make improvements in the real world.
  • Employer permission to commit three days per month to the programme
  • Looking for guidance and support in scaling up their solution

We particularly encourage applications from minority communities and those addressing health inequalities and sustainability as a core focus.

Selection Criteria

Applications were formally assessed by a group of assessors from a range of backgrounds including clinical, commissioning, commercial and patient groups.

Candidate criteria

  • Commitment to learning – Ability to demonstrate their dedication to learning new skills and principles. Successful applicants will show drive and willingness to challenge themselves in developing their expertise in a range of new areas, sharing learnings with peers as they progress.
  • Commitment to progressing your innovation – Developing and scaling innovation within the NHS does not come without its challenges. Fellows accepted onto the programme will show clear ambition in progressing their innovation, and be dedicated to sharing the benefits of their solution with the wider NHS, in spite of any barriers and challenges they may face.
  • Commitment to the Fellowship – Ability to dedicate at least three days per month to the programme. This includes attendance at programme workshops, as well as mentorship sessions through out the year. Successful applicants will be eager to take part in these learning sessions and be able to commit their time up front to the published dates of the programme. They will act as ambassadors to the Fellowship, attending events to discuss their innovation and experiences of the programme.
  • Commitment to reducing health inequalities – The pandemic has shone a light on health inequalities in the UK. While candidates are not expected to have solved the issue of health inequalities, successful applicants will demonstrate significant resolve in the alleviation of the issue as well as a willingness to refine their innovation to support the pursuit of a more inclusive, equal NHS.
  • Commitment to sustainable practice and a greener NHS – UCLPartners is committed to supporting the NHS in its goal to deliver a net zero health service. While applicants will not be assessed on the current green credentials of their innovations, successful Fellows will demonstrate a clear willingness to develop their understanding of the issue and be open to enhancing the sustainability of their solutions to support a greener NHS.

Innovation criteria

  • Meeting a need within the NHS – To have developed an innovation that meets a clear need within the NHS. Applicants should reference local and national priorities within their applications and clearly demonstrate how their solution is designed to address them.
  • Evidenced to proof of concept – The UCLPartners Innovation Fellowship is seeking innovations evidenced to proof of concept level. Evidence sources will vary depending on the use case, but successful applicants will be able to provide evidence of how their innovation is proven to work within a particular setting. For a definition of ‘proof of concept’, please see the top of the page under Applicant Criteria.
  • Patient and public engagement – Understand the value and importance of the patient/public voice and who actively seek input from end users for all changes to their innovation. Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate how patient and public input has enhanced the development of their innovation.
  • Workforce engagement and considerations – Demonstrate how they have engaged the workforce in the development of their innovation. They will be able to evidence how they have obtained clinical buy in and show how they have considered the principles of human factors and ergonomics in the development of their innovation.
  • Indication of improved systems efficiency and potential cost savings – While we do not expect applicants to provide real world evidence of improved systems efficiency and cost savings at this stage, successful candidates should be able to give a compelling rationale of how they expect their innovation to provide such savings to the NHS.