To apply to the NHS CEP Patient Programme, you need to:

1. Have lived experience as a patient, carer or family member of a health condition.
2. Individuals need to apply with a project or innovation that is already in development and beyond the idea stage. Applicants need to have done some market research, understand priorities to the health services and how their idea could potentially impact different populations. This programme is aimed at those individuals who don’t already have support from an organisation.
3. Be based in England – sorry we cannot accept patient entrepreneurs from Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales.
4. Be 18 years of age or old.

No, I’m afraid the patient programme is currently only open to those in England.

No unfortunately very early-stage ideas will not be accepted. We welcome applications from those with an innovative idea who have undertaken some research and development or those who have progressed their innovation further (minimum viable product /testing or already out in the market) but require additional support.

You can find a link to the application portal on our website when it is open.  You need register with the portal with a name and email address. Once logged into your account, you can then begin your application from the portal home page. Please only submit your application via the portal. Applications submitted by post, email, or any other method will not be accepted. 

The application is a series of questions about you, and your potential innovation or idea. You can find a template of the application form on our website.

All questions need to be complete you must have supplied both a pitch and letters of support or your application will NOT be considered

The programme is designed to allow you to engage in full time work/training at the same time as participating in the programme. The time commitment varies and the more engaged you are with the programme, the greater the benefit. The minimum commitment is attendance at half of the scheduled group educational events (there are usually eight per year) four interactions with your assigned mentor; the completion of learning documents such as an action plan, personal development plan and lean canvas; and the provision of periodic progress updates.  

There are no costs associated with joining and accessing the programme. When we return to in-person events, you will be responsible for funding your own travel and accommodation. 

This is not a paid fellowship, and the programme does not offer any funding or grants. 

We cannot accept joint applications but can accept applications from co-founders and teams working on the same innovation (as long as they meet the initial criteria).

Each application is based on the individual and not on the innovation. 

Primarily, the innovation must aim to benefit the NHS, and this could be directly or indirectly. The idea can be clinical or non-clinical, for example, it may be a device, app, service improvement idea, workforce development idea, or anything else. Some of the ideas currently supported on the programme include: Health and fitness programmes, Charities and social enterprises, Training and education programmes, E-rosters, consent platforms & e-prescribing platforms, AI and deep learning algorithms, Substance abuse interventions, Autonomous drone delivery services, Radiation exposure monitors, Robotic surgery innovations, Remote eye, ear, and blood testing, Prescription label translators, Secure communications platforms, Mental health interventions, Nutrition guidance and plans, digital/ estates/ maintenance/ issue reporting, Smart inventory managing tools, Medicines adherence tools, Chatbots and many more… 

Currently, this programme does not seek to claim any intellectual property. 

Applications are assessed by two reviewers who assess your application independently. These applications are then reviewed by the CEP team. Applications that meet a certain threshold will get accepted onto the programme. If any details need clarifying, we may choose to arrange a brief video call with you. All unsuccessful applications will be reviewed by a validation committee to ensure that decisions to not offer a place onto the programme this year are fair and justified. 

There are a pool of assessors that assist with programme applications. These include Patient and Public Involvement team, Clinical Entrepreneurs and alumni, programme mentors, and other programme stakeholders and supporters. All assessors and validators will be asked to declare any known conflicts of interest to the CEP programme team and all assessors sign a non-disclosure agreement. 

All information disclosed via the application process will be kept strictly confidential. Assessors, moderators and validators will not share any of the information they are privy to through the application process and will keep all information safe and secure. However, you are still advised to not disclose any information that is potentially patentable. Rather, we recommend you only provide the more general information about your idea/innovation.

Please ensure you complete all sections of the application fully. Incomplete applications will not be assessed. 

It is your responsibility to complete the form in full and submit it to the programme by the closing date.

Only applications made on the application portal will be accepted.

Yes, save your progress using the ‘Save and Close’ button and complete/amend your application at a later date (before the submission deadline). We recommend that you save your work regularly to minimise the risk of losing work due to any local computer or internet problems. 

No, please only submit one application and ensure all information provided is complete and accurate. 

If your application is successful, you will be notified and sent an NHS CEP Patient Entrepreneur Programme agreement which must be signed and returned to accept your place onto the programme. 

Due to the number of applications we receive we will be unable to provide detailed feedback on individual applications. 

The programme is for the individual, so don’t worry you will still have a spot on the programme. Failure and challenges are part of the innovation journey! 

Please see the Patient Entrepreneur Programme page or if you have more questions, please contact us at cep@aru.ac.uk