Clinical Entrepreneur Programme

Please visit our official website for the latest updates: nhscep.com

Overview of the programme

The Clinical Entrepreneur Programme is a workforce development programme for clinical and non-clinical NHS staff, run by NHS England’s Innovation, Research and Life Sciences group and delivered jointly with Anglia Ruskin University. The programme welcomes applications from a diverse range of clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals with an interest in entrepreneurship and innovation – could this be you or someone you know?

It is the biggest entrepreneurial workforce development programme of its kind, aiming to provide the commercial skills, knowledge and experience needed to successfully develop and spread innovative solutions to the challenges facing the NHS for the benefit of patients, staff and the wider NHS. More than 500 individuals including doctors, dentists, healthcare scientists, nurses and midwives, allied health professionals and pharmacists, have joined the programme since it launched in 2016.

The programme offers expert mentoring, exclusive networking, and bespoke training to develop innovative ideas into products and businesses to benefit NHS patients. The curriculum covers all aspects of setting up and running a small business, including attracting investors, applying for funding, and ensuring appropriate corporate governance. Training on how to build a start-up, and how to operate in this highly charged environment, is delivered as a series of educational events attended by industry mentors. The programme allows entrepreneurs to pursue their innovation without having to leave the health service, providing a wider benefit to economic growth through inward investment in the health, social care and life science sectors.

The programme offers:

  • one-to-one mentoring and coaching
  • networking opportunities and system introductions
  • placements and internships
  • bespoke advice and guidance on setting up and running a successful business
  • business planning support
  • educational ‘pit stop’ events, topic-specific workshops and guest speakers
  • expert webinars, video content and e-learning
  • accredited curriculum
  • invitations to conferences and events
  • pitching opportunities
  • news, communications and media
  • signposting to investment sources, sponsorship offers, funding opportunities, awards and prizes
  • time out for entrepreneurial activities
  • peer-to-peer support forum
  • badge of permission
  • professional development including assessing and improving entrepreneurial skills.

Contact us

Watch this video to find out more about the programme.

Dr Krishan Ramdoo, Ear, Nose and Throat Research Fellow, GP, Founder and Chief Executive of Tympahealth, and a clinical entrepreneur:

Whilst working in ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery as a registrar and then embarking on his PhD, Krishan’s area of interest soon became about the impact of hearing loss globally and how technology could be used to help patients in this field. He subsequently founded TympaHealth Technologies. This is, in essence, a unique smartphone otoscope – a medical device which is used to look into the ears.

The Tympa System delivers a safe, cost-effective, digital ear inspection, wax removal via micro-suction and a screening hearing test, all delivered by allied health professionals. The hearing health record can then be remotely reviewed by ENT specialists via a secure online platform. TympaHealth Technologies is also developing an algorithmic screening tool, using machine learning to identify anomalies in the ear which would then be prioritised for review and early detection.

With support from the mentoring, training, opportunities and connections provided by the Clinical Entrepreneur programme, Krishan, now practising as a GP, has taken the Tympa System from concept stage to market.

TympaHealth has completed two series of funding rounds and is currently in ongoing trials with the NHS, being rolled out as the preferred system in the Boots Hearingcare network. Tympa is also collaborating with Apple’s Research Kit with the aim of recruiting to the largest hearing loss study across the world. Not only are patients now benefitting from the technology being developed by this clinical entrepreneur, but the NHS is also receiving a return on its investment as a shareholder in the technology.

Website: www.tympahealth.com

Dr Hinnah Rafique, Founder of Generation Medics

Generation Medics, a multi-award winning social enterprise. empowers people to explore, strive and succeed in healthcare careers. They are the largest UK social enterprise community run by medics for medics, nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals. Through their community programmes and innovative online platform, they are building a future pipeline of talent for the NHS. Hinnah has been recognised in the UK’s most influential social enterprise leaders list for the past two years and has been an NHS clinical entrepreneur fellow since the programme began. She has led significant organisational growth during this time, growing her team and supporting thousands of prospective and current healthcare professionals. Hinnah said: “The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur programme is a ground-breaking community of changemakers supported by both frontline and senior staff – this is how we can make positive change!”

Website: https://generationmedics.org.uk/director/

For more examples of our entrepreneurs, please visit the clinical entrepreneurs page of our website.