In 2019, the Academy commissioned independent scoping work to assess what could be done to help people connect across sectors. Five key challenges were identified:
- A lack of incentives
- Difficulties in connecting with the right people/organisations
- Little recognition of mobility in career progression appraisals
- Cultural gaps between organisations
- Lack of resource to support engagement and backfill mobile researchers, particularly from the NHS and small businesses.
To address these challenges, we first launched the Cross-Sector Programme in 2022. The programme is designed to bring together innovators and researchers from different fields to promote health innovation. It also offers support to overcome the challenges to collaborating across sectors.
In November 2023, we launched a new funding scheme, the Cross-Sector Experience Awards. In addition to providing the incentives and resources required to work in another sector, this scheme will support individuals to:
- Gain new skills and share skills between different sectors.
- Generate novel ideas and collaborations that could lead to new innovations.
Employing organisation – the applicant’s current workplace.
Partner organisation – where the applicant is proposing to work for the award.
Applicants must:
- Be at a suitable stage of their career (appropriate for their discipline and/or sector) to work for a time in a different sector. Applicants should be able to show why it is appropriate to strengthen their knowledge of, and connections with, another sector at this point in their career and how it will impact their work. Applicants do not need to be at a specific career stage nor hold a PhD to apply, if all other criteria are met.
- Work in any discipline but have a clear link to the improvement of human health through their activities. Applicants do not need to work in research to apply, but their work must have a demonstrable link to improving human health.
- Be based in any sector. This includes but is not limited to:
- academia
- industry
- NHS/healthcare
- government and policy-based organisations
- charity
- the private sector
- Be on a part- or full-time contract that is either permanent or fixed term. The end date must fall after the completion of the proposed award. If the applicant’s contract does not cover the full potential award period, the applicant’s employer (the employing organisation) must extend it.
- Dedicate at least 50% of their working time to the award. The remaining time can be used for other responsibilities such as practice and teaching. Applicants may apply to work part-time at the organisation they want to work at (the partner organisation) with the remainder of their working hours being spent at their employing organisation.
The applicant must not:
- Be an undergraduate student.
- Have the means to work in another organisation/sector, including at the partner organisation(s), already. This scheme is designed for those without the means to take up a role temporarily in another organisation. Applicants should not use this scheme to free up existing funds for other activities.
- Hold 6% or more shares in a company if they wish to name them as the partner organisation. If the applicant holds less than 6% shares in the company, they will need to justify how this will benefit the employing organisation.
- Have ever held an employment contract with the partner organisation. Please note, in exceptional circumstances the Academy will consider some previous experience; these will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you believe your circumstances could qualify for an exception, you must discuss this with the Academy team in advance of your application in order to confirm your eligibility.
- Have had significant experience working with the partner organisation(s), including previous internship placements, postgraduate study and/or collaborative activities that involved periods of working (including unpaid work) at the partner organisation.
- Accept a salary from the partner organisation during the award. They will still receive their salary through the employing organisation. They are not permitted to receive a double salary.
- Be a Trustee of the Academy.
Self-employed individuals and PhD students should speak with the Office before applying to discuss their application.
Resubmissions
Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply permitting they have listened to the Panel’s feedback and changed their proposal accordingly; the applicant will need to demonstrate this within their application form. If the Panel deemed the partner organisation unsuitable, applicants should find a new partner organisation to apply with. Unsuccessful applicants can only apply for this scheme with the same partner organisation twice. If both applications are unsuccessful, the applicant would need to select a new partner organisation in order to apply again.
Successful applicants are also welcome to reapply, however they must select a new partner organisation to apply with and it must be in a different sector to that of their previously awarded partner organisation as well as their employing organisation. If the applicant has since changed employing organisation, then their partner organisation must be different to both their current and previous employing organisation. Cross-Sector Experience Award holders should ensure their first award is complete before submitting their second application, and must thoroughly justify how and why a second award will be beneficial to their on-going work at the employing organisation.
For further information, please refer to our FAQs document or contact us with any questions at [email protected].
Employing organisation – the applicant’s current workplace.
Partner organisation – where the applicant is proposing to work for the award.
The employing organisation must:
- Be based in the UK.
- Be the host of the award. If the applicant is employed by multiple organisations, the employing organisation should be able to host and manage the award. The employing organisation will receive award funds which can: i) be used by the employing organisation to backfill the awardee for the duration of the award; and/or ii) be distributed by the employing organisation to the awardee and partner organisation, as appropriate, to be spent on activity costs and travel/subsistence. The employing organisation must continue to pay the awardee’s salary, as well as National Insurance, pension contributions and any other employee benefits that they offer. Those who are unable to backfill their position, including but not limited to self-employed applicants, PhD student and postdoctoral applicants should speak with the Office before applying.
- Ensure the applicant’s contract extends past the proposed end date of the award. If the applicant is on a fixed term contract that ends before to the end of the proposed award, the employing organisation should issue a new contract ending after this date.
- Work flexibly and collaboratively with the applicant before and during the award, including supporting them with their application.
- Work flexibly and collaboratively with the partner organisation to create new connections.
The partner organisation must:
- Be based in a different sector to the employing organisation. If the applicant is employed by numerous organisations, the partner organisation must be in a different sector to all current employers, not just the employing organisation as the host of the award.
- Support the applicant with their application and work collaboratively with the employing organisation to ensure the experience is mutually beneficial.
- Support the applicant, if successful, during their award. Partner organisations should provide the resources the awardee needs to perform their role within the organisation. The awardee will be able to claim related costs during their award, as part of their application. The awardee should be treated as an employee in all aspects apart from those associated only with being a salaried employee.
The partner organisation can be:
- Based outside of the UK. While the employing organisation must be in the UK, the partner organisation does not need to be. Award funding can cover travel and subsistence, including costs associated with visas for the awardee only. By applying, the applicant acknowledges they can travel and live in the partner organisation’s country to take up the award.
- An existing partner/collaborator of the applicant. While there cannot be any contractual ties between them nor significant levels of collaborative activities at the partner organisation, the applicant can have collaborated with colleagues at the partner organisation.
The applicant can apply with two partner organisations within one application, however, they must:
- Be in the same sector. For example, partnering with two NHS Trusts, or two Universities.
- Be partnered with for a minimum of three months each, making the minimum award period for this type of award six months.
- Have a clear link. The applicant must be able to demonstrate in their application that working at both partner organisations is necessary and will have a greater impact on them and their work compared to working with just one partner organisation.
The applicant, employing organisation and partner organisation must create an intellectual property (IP) agreement covering any outputs during the potential award. This should include data, assets and other products. Once awarded, a signed copy of the formal IP agreement may be requested by the Academy with the other requested documentation to accept the award.
For further information, please refer to our FAQs document or contact us with any questions at [email protected].
This scheme is for people who are keen to experience working in a different sector to their own. The aim is to allow them to develop their understanding of a new sector, gain new skills and foster collaborations.
Eligible individuals will be able to work in a new organisation in a different sector (the partner organisation) for between three and twelve months before returning to work at their current employer (the employing organisation). If the applicant choses to apply with two partner organisations, they must be: i) in a different sector to the applicant’s own and ii) be in the same sector as each other. For example, an applicant from industry could apply to work with two different NHS Trusts. The minimum award period for this type of application is 6 months, with 3 months minimum spent at each partner organisation. The applicant can work at each partner organisation for a different length of time as long as it is at least 3 months or more. For example, 3 months at one and 6 months at the other partner organisation.
Prior to application, the applicant must identify a suitable organisation that they would like to temporarily work at. Both their employing and partner organisations must agree to the proposed move before the applicant submits the application. If the application is successful, the awardee should start their award within six months after receiving their award letter. In certain circumstances, this can be extended to up to 12 months after the award letter has been received. However, this must be first discussed with, and approved by, the Academy.
Applicants can claim up to £100,000 to flexibly cover:
- the salary costs to backfill their position during the award or if the applicant is a current PhD student their stipend or if their backfill of their position is not appropriate then their salary (the Office must approve this latter salary cost before submission)
- activities carried out by the awardee at the partner organisation
- travel and subsistence (of the awardee only).
PhD students must have permission from their funder to put their PhD into abeyance for the duration of the potential award. Alternatively, if the funder approves, this award could serve as their internship if this is a requirement of their PhD.
Self-employed and freelance applicants and those that receive payments/contributions from an organisation using their public and patient involvement processes must speak to the Office before applying to discuss their salary arrangements.
Those with positions that are not appropriate for backfill must contact the Office to confirm the award can be used to cover their personal salary before applying.
This award only covers base salary, National Insurance and employer’s contributions; it does not cover indirect costs or estate/facilities costs.
Funding will be awarded, in one payment, to the employing organisation, who should continue to pay the salary, National Insurance and pension contributions of the awardee. It is the employing organisation’s responsibility to distribute funding as appropriate. The partner organisation, while not responsible for their salary, will be expected to support the awardee during the award and provide resources as required for the duration.
At the end of the award, the awardee will return to their employing organisation to resume their role. We encourage the awardee and the two organisations to retain the connections made and work more collaboratively going forward. The awardee should return with new skills, experiences and knowledge to apply to their work, and share with colleagues.
In addition to funding, the awardee will be eligible for the Academy’s one-to-one mentoring and PILLAR programmes, as well as NIHR Academy's leadership and mentorship schemes.
Please refer to our FAQs document for further information on eligible costs and other criteria.
The current members of the Selection Panel are:
Professor Jackie Hunter CBE FMedSci FBPharmacolS FRSB FZL PhD Hons DSc (Chair), Chairperson at Brainomix Ltd and Biocortex, and Chair at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst
Dr Lisa Anne Ashmore, PhD, MA, BSc (Hons), Lancaster University
Dr Rubina Ahmed, Director of Research, Policy and Services, Blood Cancer UK
Professor Linda Bauld OBE FMedSci FRSE FRCPE FAcSS FFPH, University of Edinburgh
Dr Yvonne Doyle CB, FMedSci, MD, MPH, FRCPI, FFPH, Self-employed: Hospital non-executive, international advisor and consultant, Trustee, and Faculty of Public Health chairmanship.
Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald OBE FRS FMedSci, University of Cambridge
Dr Steve Gardner, CEO of PrecisionLife Ltd.
Professor Susan Hopkins FRCP FRCPI FFPH HonFRCPath FMedSci CBE, Chief Executive Officer, UK Health Security Agency; Hon Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Royal Free London; Hon Professor of Infectious Diseases and Health Security, University College London
Dr Gita Khalili Moghaddam, University of Cambridge
Professor Jennifer Logue, Expert Medical Director in Metabolism, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development
Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery FMedSci, BA, LLM, Hon FRCPCH, Hon FFPH, Professor of Health Care Law University College London; Chair, Oxford University Hospitals NHSFT
Professor Miratul Muqit FMedSci FRSE, University of Dundee
Professor Zion Tse, Queen Mary University of London
Applicants should not approach Panel members to discuss their applications. Contact us with any questions at [email protected].
All successful awardees must submit a Final Expenditure Report within three months of the end of the award. They must also submit a progress report one year following award completion. Both reports must be submitted through the awardee’s Flexi-Grant account. The blank templates can be found on the ‘Reporting’ option on the Flexi-Grant award summary. If you require further assistance, please contact the team at [email protected].
Cross-Sector Experience Awards sample application form