Welcome to the October edition of The Digital Academy Newsletter. Here is your monthly round up of all things happening in The Digital Academy and system partners, including learning opportunities, news, updates, events and learning spotlights. Please do email us with your thoughts and feedback and forward to colleagues who may wish to sign up.
Learning opportunities
AI bitesize: AI Ambassador Network
David Farrell, Head of our Digital Academy was joined by Dr Jeffry Hogg, Clinical Assistant Professor, Bright at the University of Birmingham for the fifth bitesize in our AI learning series, ‘What does AI failure look like?’. These relatively short sessions continue to show a very positive confidence shift in pre and post assessment. The AI Ambassador Network Conference is taking centre stage in November so the sixth bitesize, covering ‘How can I check AI products work for my patients?', will be recorded and made available outside of that. You will need to register with the AI Ambassador network to receive invitations for future sessions and the AI bitesize session links are all available to watch on demand on the Digital Academy FutureNHS community.
New one-stop Copilot training
As Microsoft Copilot reaches more and more staff, we recognise that colleagues in NHS organisations have skilling needs that spans introductory learning, practical skills development, adoption support, leadership briefings, community learning, accessibility-focused activities and hands-on workshops. The Copilot Learning for All page, accessible for all with an nhs.net account, has something for every stop on your AI learning journey. As always, there is also a thriving AI Exchange community where you can learn from each other and ask your questions anytime. Join the community to get announcements of future training opportunities and if you are looking for more check out the One Big Thing and Get Tech Certified page also on Viva Engage.
Latest news
Can’t get online, can’t get by
Our partner, the Good Things Foundation, annual digital inclusion campaign takes place 19 to 25 October this year. The campaign has been held since 2007 and they have hosted thousands of free community events across the UK, helping millions of people learn new skills and confidently get online to do things like safely navigate the web or try out AI. They are asking everyone to take action and help raise awareness of digital inclusion and advocate for everyone to be able to participate in our digital society. Find out more and get involved.
Government Digital and Data Professional Capability Framework
The Government Digital and Data Professional Capability Framework helps individuals, managers and organisations understand the skills and development needed for digital and data roles across government. It supports career development, recruitment and workforce planning across the profession. The website has recently been updated to a new address, whilst the content, functionality and user experience of the website remains the same with existing links automatically redirecting to the new website so no disruption is expected. Users are asked to update any bookmarks, favourites or saved links that are regularly used. Visit the new website.
Two national education surveys are open across the NHS
The National Education and Training Survey (NETS) and the Educator Voice Survey (EVS) are now open. Learners, trainees and apprentices: National Education and Training Survey (NETS) is your chance to share your experience of induction, supervision and the learning environment. Educators, supervisors and teaching staff: Educator Voice Survey (EVS) is your chance to say what support, capacity and recognition you need. Both surveys are anonymous and take around 10 minutes to complete. Your feedback helps shape healthcare education and training, have your say.
Upcoming events
Digital Innovation in the NHS
We are delighted that James Freed, our Deputy Director has been invited to participate in a roundtable House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee event on 28 October 2026. The event will bring together stakeholders from across health and care to discuss opportunities, challenges and practical considerations in delivering the NHS’s digital ambitions as set out in the Government’s NHS 10-Year Health Plan. The discussions will help inform the Committee’s priorities for its future work and identify areas for potential parliamentary examination.
Process Mining Masterclass for Strategic Commissioning and Change
Join this one day masterclass on 30 October, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm at the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, designed for NHS strategy and change leaders looking for evidence-based tools to support their process and performance improvement agenda. The course is aimed at non-technical managers and leaders, including hands-on training in process mining tools as well as covering case studies, tips and techniques on implementation through local data analytics teams. Find out more and register.
Digital Health Rewired
Join us and leaders at the forefront of NHS modernisation at Digital Health Rewired, taking place in Birmingham on 16-17 March 2027. The next era of healthcare digitisation is here. Collaborate with the NHS’s most influential leaders and senior decision-makers to deliver on shifting priorities. More NHS CCIOs, CIOs and CNIOs attend Rewired than any other event and 95% of NHS Trusts are represented. Find out more and register.
Recently published
Technology, innovation and NHS productivity report
Technology and innovation offer significant opportunities for the NHS to deliver healthcare differently. Deployed effectively, digital and data-driven technologies, including artificial intelligence, will not only help alleviate current service pressures but will also boost long-term productivity growth. The persistent challenge has been how to translate the potential technology offers into sustained productivity gains in practice and at scale. James Freed, our Deputy Director is quoted in this new report from the Health Foundation ‘low digital literacy among NHS workforce was causing poorer patient outcomes, staff burnout and even staff to leave the sector… In healthcare, both staff and patients need digital skills to optimise the use of technology but the best solutions should be easy to use’. Read the full report.
Is your workforce ready to make the most of AI and digital technology?
Our partner, FutureDotNow has created the Workforce Digital and AI Readiness Report to help organisations discover where workforce capability may be limiting your organisation's productivity, AI adoption and cyber resilience. Answer four simple questions to receive a personalised Workforce Digital and AI Readiness Report. Using your workforce size and sector, they estimate the number of employees who may lack the essential digital skills for work and the potential impact this may be having on your organisation. Find out more about the report.
Digital done right: moving towards a future where everyone is included
This report by Age UK highlights that older people have different levels of access, skills and confidence and many face barriers using essential services. Age UK is calling for a more inclusive approach to digital transformation which includes designing services around older people’s needs, making digital services easier to navigate, maintaining accessible non-digital alternatives and providing support to develop digital skills and confidence. Read the report.
Learning spotlight
Anchoring in humanity – navigating digital pivots to find purpose
Topol Fellowship alumnus George Anibaba, Data Lead, Sussex Primary Care Provider Collaborative reflects on his Topol and onward journey from health equity to the responsible adoption of AI in healthcare. For George, digital transformation isn't about the "bits, bots, and gadgets." It’s about the people behind the data. As a former Topol Digital Fellow, George’s journey is a great case in professional resilience, the power of pivoting (both in Excel and real life) and the importance of staying grounded in human-centred care while genuinely engaging with what digital innovation can offer. Read his story.
Digital Profession
Digital Profession job descriptions
Agenda for Change banded job descriptions for the Digital Profession are being developed to support recruitment, workforce planning and career development across the NHS. These optional national resources can be adapted for local use, with local job matching processes applying.
The latest job descriptions and supporting guidance are now available to download. Further roles across a range of Digital Profession job families will be added over the coming months, with the full suite available by December 2026. Find out more on our FutureNHS community.
Podcast in focus
Why NHS productivity isn’t just about the tech
The latest episode of Digital Health Unplugged explores the role of technology in delivering the productivity gains needed across the NHS in conversation with Tera Allas, co-chair of the NHS Productivity Commission. The podcast follows the publication of the commission’s final report which states that improving productivity through better use of technology, the workforce and capital could save the NHS in England up to £33bn a year by 2040, while preventing up to 20,600 deaths annually. Listen to the podcast.
Enrol on our courses
NHS England has a range of bulletins covering primary care, nursing, mental health, transformation, NHS IMPACT and other topics.
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