About us
About us
How the programme started
In 2015, a meeting between a junior doctor and Professor Tony Young was to be a pivotal moment in the creation of a workforce training programme. The doctor, who wanted to pursue a career in the NHS but also develop his start-up, was told he need to choose between one or the other..
Discover a world of possibilities
It was clear that the NHS was losing some of it’s ‘brightest, creative minds’ and there needed to be a solution that supported both, this led to the development of the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme by Professor Tony Young in 2016.
In the first ten years of the programme:
1800+
individuals have been supported
685
innovations are being developed
448
returned or were retained by the NHS
£1.2billion
of funding raised
Supporting innovation in the NHS
“It is truly amazing what can happen when you empower the NHS’ most valuable asset: its staff, and encourage them to push beyond the bounds of possibility.”
Professor Tony Young OBE, National Clinical Lead for Innovation, NHS England
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)
In 2026 Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) were re appointed as delivery partner to the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme.
ARU’s involvement draws together more than 60 cross sector partners including NHS hospitals such as Mid and South Essex, Newcastle upon Tyne, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s, Chelsea and Westminster, Milton Keynes, Northumbria, and Bradford Royal Infirmary, multinational companies such as IBM, Deloitte and Unipart, research charities, and innovation and business support networks such as the We Are Pioneer group and Medilink Midlands.
The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme is ran by a small dedicated team from ARU.
ARU are proud to partners with NHS England to deliver the Clinical Entrepreneur Programme. If you aspire to a career in healthcare and medical innovation, explore ARU’s degree courses in nursing, midwifery, medicine, and health and medical science.
Ten Year of Transforming Health Care Through Innovation.
2016/17: Programme Launch
The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP) was established in response to clinicians being told they had to choose between a clinical career and innovation. Emerging from the MedTech Meet-Up movement, the programme launched with its first cohort of 104 junior doctors.
2017/18: Expansion Across Clinical Professions
The programme broadened its eligibility beyond doctors to include dentists and healthcare scientists, widening access to innovation opportunities across the NHS workforce.
2018/19: Multi-Professional Growth
CEP expanded further to welcome allied health professionals, nurses, midwives and pharmacists, creating a truly multidisciplinary innovation community.
2019/20: NHS-Wide and COVID-19 Response
The programme opened to all NHS staff, including non-clinical professionals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, CEP rapidly adapted by:
- Providing mental health check-ins and support resources for NHS staff.
- Accelerating innovations to support frontline services and patients.
- Moving entirely online, significantly increasing accessibility and engagement.
2020/21: ARU Takes the Helm
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) was commissioned to deliver the programme, marking a major step in its evolution. The programme developed its own brand, website and social media presence, increasing visibility across the health innovation ecosystem. New workstreams were commissioned, and evaluations of the first four cohorts were undertaken.
2021/22: New Partnerships and Placements
The Health Innovation Placement Pilot Programme was launched, providing entrepreneurs with hands-on experience across the innovation landscape. Crisis Venture Studio became a key programme partner, strengthening support for venture development.
2022/23: UK Expansion
CEP established a Scotland Coordination Group and launched a dedicated Scottish cohort, extending the programme’s reach and impact across the UK.
2023/24: Award-Winning Innovation and Learning
The programme introduced:
- The Student Select Component (SSC)
- The Patient Entrepreneur Programme
- The CEP Prep Learning Webinar Series
This year also saw significant recognition:
- HSJ Partnership Award 2024: Best Education Programme for the NHS
- ARU Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Professional Contribution
- HSJ Award finalists for Best Partnership and Best Workforce Initiative
2024/25: New Partnerships and Record Engagement
The programme continued its expansion and impact by:
- Partnering with Alzheimer’s Society to launch the NHS Dementia Innovators Programme, a dedicated cohort supporting innovators working to improve outcomes for people living with dementia.
- Welcoming Cardiff University and the Welsh Government as Welsh partners, strengthening the programme’s reach across the UK.
- Hosting the largest-ever Big Pitch event, attracting more than 900 attendees from across the health innovation ecosystem.
- Hosting a ministerial visit to showcase the work of entrepreneurs and the programme’s impact.
- The NHS Clinical and Patient Programme and included in the NHS ‘Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England’
2025/26: A Decade of Impact and Future Growth
The programme celebrated its tenth year with:
- Year Two of the NHS Dementia Innovators Programme and year three of the patient programme.
- An expanded programme of digital learning, networking and development opportunities for entrepreneurs.
- Anglia Ruskin University successfully winning the bid to continue delivering the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme for a further 3+2 years, providing a strong foundation for the programme’s next phase of growth and impact.
- Continued expansion of the programme’s national network, supporting innovators across England, Scotland and Wales and helping transform healthcare through entrepreneurship and innovation.