Don't miss the final deadline for project submissions -- 14 December 2025
Published 1 December 2025
Following the success of previous Welsh Clinical Leadership Fellowship (WCLF) cohorts, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) is excited to announce the 2026 intake of this flagship leadership programme. We are pleased to confirm that the 2026 Welsh Clinical Leadership Fellowship will be fully funded, covering 100% of salary and academic costs. This enhanced offer recognises the challenging financial landscape by removing the previous 50% organisational contribution requirement. This will enable NHS Wales organisations to benefit from hosting a Fellow without financial commitment.
This investment aims to accelerate delivery of strategic improvement projects across NHS Wales aligned to national priorities and also to develop our future clinical leaders.
The Welsh Clinical Leadership Fellowship provides an unparalleled, year-long opportunity for talented clinicians to step out of their usual roles to lead high-impact projects while completing an accredited academic leadership programme. Fellows will be recruited nationally from across clinical professions (medical and dental trainees ST3/DT2 and above, and Agenda for Change Band 7–8a.) In return for this investment, you will need to provide a supportive environment for your hosted Fellow including: local mentorship; supervision; networking and shadowing opportunities alongside the HEIW curated leadership development academic curriculum.
We are now inviting project proposals for delivery of strategic improvement work aligned to national priorities. Of the projects submitted, up to 8 projects will be selected to as part of the 100% funding offer. To qualify for consideration, your project must align with the NHS Wales Planning Framework 2025–28 (NHS Wales planning framework 2025 to 2028: letter to NHS chairs) and/or Improving Performance Together: Priority Delivery Actions for Better Health and Care 2025/26 (Improving performance together: priority delivery actions for better health and care 2025 to 2026).
Further projects may be supported as part of the Fellowship programme where organisations are able to provide 100% funding.
We now invite you to submit project proposals that will help shape the future of health and care delivery in Wales. This is an exceptional opportunity to support future clinical leaders while driving meaningful improvement and innovation across NHS Wales.
Project proposals should be submitted by 14th December 2025 using this link: Welsh Clinical Leadership Fellows 2026 Intake - Project Submission Form.
Project Submission Form – Fill in form
Welsh Clinical Leadership Fellowship - Gwella HEIW Leadership Portal for Wales
To discuss this further please get in touch HEIW.WCLTF@wales.nhs.uk