Entries open for Cross-Sector Experience Awards (UK)

The award also offers support to overcome the challenges to collaborating across sectors. The programme runs networking events that are hosted by Cross-Sector Hubs around the UK and bring together people working on a health challenge who want to collaborate with others to develop their ideas.

Aim

• 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

Objectives

• These awards are designed to provide the awardee with the opportunity to:
  • experience working in a different sector
  • develop their understanding of a new sector
  • gain new skills
  • foster collaborations

Funding Information

• This scheme offers up to £100,000, which can be used flexibly to cover:
  • salary costs to either backfill the applicant’s position at the employing organisation during the award; cover the applicant’s salary if their position is unsuitable for backfill; or cover their PhD stipend if the applicant is a current PhD student with permission from their funder to put their PhD on hold
  • activities performed by the applicant at the partner organisation
  • travel, accommodation and subsistence for the applicant.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Cross-Sector Experience Awards are aimed at individuals who want to experience working in a new sector. Your current work must have a clear link to the improvement of human health and the work you propose to do at the partner organization must obviously benefit your work at the employing organisation.
• In order to be eligible for this scheme, you must satisfy the following:
  • Be at a suitable stage of your career (appropriate for your discipline and/or sector) to work for a time in a different sector. You should be able to show why it is appropriate to strengthen your knowledge of, and connections with, another sector at this point in your career and how it will impact your work. You do not need to be at a specific career stage nor hold a PhD to apply, if all other criteria are met. However, if you are at a more senior career stage in particular, the Panel encourage you to consider submitting a more strategic proposal aligned with your senior responsibilities and employing organisation.
  • Work in any discipline but have a clear link to the improvement of human health through your activities. You do not need to work in research to apply, but your work must have a demonstrable link to improving human health. You may currently work in any discipline or sector.
  • Be on a part or full-time contract that is either:
    • permanent; or
    • fixed-term with an end date falling after the completion of the proposed award
  • Have a minimum of 50% of your total working hours dedicated to this award.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Furthermore, you must not:
  • be an undergraduate student; if you are currently completing a Masters degree or PhD, you must have permission to pause or include this award as part of your studies in order to apply
  • currently hold, or have held, a contract of employment with the partner organisation; this includes previous internships and postgraduate education
  • hold 6% or more shares in the company if you wish to name them as the partner organisation; those who own shares less than 6% at the partner organisation will be asked to justify how this award will benefit the employing organisation
  • have the means to work in another organisation or sector already; you should not use this scheme to free up existing funds for other activities
  • accept a salary, fee or any form of payment from the partner organisation during the award; the awardee will continue to receive their salary from the employing organisation for the duration of the award, or through award funding where it is not possible to backfill the applicant’s role.

For more information, visit Academy of Medical Sciences.