Welcome to the September 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
The fifth in the series of AI bitesize will take place at the next AI Ambassador Network meeting being held on 7 October 2026, 10:30 to 12:00. David Farrell, Head of our Digital Academy will be joined by Dr Jeffry Hogg, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Birmingham and will cover ‘How is patient data used in AI-enabled care?' You will need to register with the AI Ambassador network to receive invitations. The AI bitesize session links are made available to watch on demand on the Digital Academy FutureNHS community.
FREE CompTIA Certifications for NHS DDaT Professionals
Launched in June 2025 as part of the Cyber Improvement Programme, Cyber School is building cyber capability across the NHS by providing fully funded training and recognised qualifications to complement the experience of our cyber professionals. We are now offering funded places on the CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ courses including the exams, specifically for IT, Infrastructure, Network and Server teams. Find out more.
NHS Fellowship in Clinical AI: Cohort 6
NHS Fellowship in Clinical AI applications open on 5 October 2026 for Cohort 6, running from August 2027 to August 2028. The 12-month fellowship is open to eligible NHS health and social care professionals and requires a commitment of two days per week. Salary funding is available for fellows appointed to competitive posts, while nominated posts can be supported through an organisational sponsor or self-funding. An applicant webinar will take place on 5 October, 12:30 to 13:30, with applications closing on 16 November 2026.
As part of the fellowship, participants will gain hands-on experience deploying and evaluating AI in clinical workflows, attend masterclasses delivered by NHS AI centres of excellence, and join a growing national network of clinical AI leaders. Find out more and apply.
Get Tech Certified returns this autumn
Get Tech Certified returns on 1 October 2027, bringing free digital and technology learning pathways and recognised certifications to people working across the UK public sector.
Delivered by Government Digital and Data (GDD) in partnership with leading technology providers, the campaign will offer opportunities to build practical skills across areas including Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, FinOps, Software Engineering and Architecture. Beginner to advanced level opportunities available. Find out more on the GDD Hub.
Latest news
Join the conversation and shape the future of senior digital leadership
Our colleagues in the Department of Skills, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) are looking to develop learning products, through their Chief Digital and Data Leader Programme. This is aimed at supporting experienced technical professionals to develop the strategic, commercial and leadership skills needed to support them on their journey into senior digital and data roles across the public sector.
If your organisation would like to help shape their work in this area, consider joining a new Trailblazer Group and contribute to the development of a future leadership pathway for these technical professionals. Contact Digitalscstalent@dsit.gov.uk to express your interest. Find out more about the programme.
Towards Excellence in Digital Standards – Workforce accreditation scheme
Towards Excellence in Digital Standards (TEDS) is an accreditation scheme based on a straightforward set of Level 1, 2 and 3 standards promoting the personal and professional development of digital staff. TEDS, facilitated by the Skills Development Networks, ensures clinical engagement with digital systems, encouraging an effective and sustainable workforce pipeline, and supporting digital leaders from team leader to Board level. Find out more about the scheme.
Topol alumni impact survey: call for feedback
The Topol Digital Fellowship supported health and social care professionals to lead digital transformation by giving them time, development support and access to a network of peers working on real-world improvement projects. It helped fellows build the skills, confidence and connections needed to use digital, data and technology to improve services and outcomes for patients and staff. Over the past 5 years there have been 203 individuals completing this programme, including grant funding and up to 400 days released for digital transformation in health and care.
Thanks to those of you who have already shared your experiences. We are still conducting research and want to hear from more Topol fellows, to understand the impact the fellowship has had for you personally, your organisation, and the wider health and social care system. We aim to use your responses to inform an alumni strategy, share your impacts and to inform the future direction of a digital health learning programme. Please complete the 15-20 minute survey.
2026 TechWomen 100 award winner
Huge congratulations to Virginia Marin Anaya, Clinical Scientist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Topol Digital Fellow who has been recognised in the 2026 TechWomen 100 Awards. The award celebrates 100 women making their mark across technology in the UK. As a Topol Digital Fellow Virginia appreciates that the fellowship allowed her to improve her communication and leadership skills, collaborate with patients, multi-disciplinary teams, adding value and creating positive and meaningful impact. Read more.
Upcoming events
HETT 26: Sessions to look out for
As part of HETT Show 2026, taking place on 29-30 September at ExCel, London, the Digital Academy will be involved in ‘Build, Borrow or Buy? Solving the Digital Skills Crisis’ with the Shuri Network on day 1 and ‘Target Architecture is the Easy Bit: Who is going to Build and Run it?’ on day 2. The Digital Profession team are joining a roundtable ‘Building the Digital Talent Pipeline with Industry Partners’ on day 2.
You can also join the Federation for Informatics Professionals (FEDIP) for the ‘Developing the Education Programme for Digital Health Professionals’ where they will be hosting a workshop to discuss the development of an educational programme for those starting out on their digital health careers. Contact Kim Bellis to request a place on this session.
NHS Alliance: NHS Digital Leaders Forum
Join the NHS Digital Leaders Forum to explore the latest policy developments, exchange insights and hear peer learning on digital transformation and innovation. Taking place on 13 October 10:00 to 11:00 online, this forum is open to digital and innovation leaders from across the NHS and is free to attend. Learn more and register for this forum.
Digital by Design: Empowering Advanced Practitioners Workshop
Join the Digital by Design: Empowering Advanced Practitioners Workshop on 12 November, 12:30 to 13:30 to explore practical, NHS-focused learning that builds confidence in digital, data and technology. Designed for Advanced Practitioners who are increasingly expected to support digital change, innovation, and informed decision-making around technology, data and AI, the session will showcase learning opportunities that help bridge the gap between clinical and digital practice.
Discover the NHS Digital Academy’s online Campus and new CPD-certified resources that support professional development and revalidation. You will have the opportunity to share your views on the knowledge and skills that would most benefit Advanced Practitioners, helping shape future NHS Digital Academy offerings. Find out more and register.
Nursing Leaders 2026
Register for Nursing leaders 2026 taking place on 24 November 2026 in London and be a part of strategic leadership at the heart of health and care reform. This is the UK’s only dedicated platform for senior and aspiring nurse leaders. Centred on action, alignment and influence, it provides a powerful platform for leadership, innovation and cross-sector collaboration at a critical moment in health and care reform. This is a free to attend event, with limited places available. Find out more.
Recently published
Participation in a connected world
As a strategic partner of The Connection Project, FutureDotNow are pleased to share its new report, Connected, which lays out a practical roadmap for ensuring digital change works for everyone. When digital participation is becoming essential for accessing work, healthcare, financial services and public services, the report identifies the actions needed to help more people benefit from an increasingly digital world.
The report reinforces FutureDotNow’s mission, highlighting the coordinated action needed to build digital confidence, increase participation and help more people develop essential digital skills for work and life. Read the report.
The biggest AI challenge is preparing the workforce
AI will only deliver its potential if staff have the confidence and capability to use it wisely, writes Sian Richards, executive director of digital, data and engagement at Health Education and Improvement Wales. Read the article.
Learning spotlight
Supporting clinical coding at scale with AI
Grant Nolan (former NHS surgeon and founder of an AI clinical coding tool) sat down with Tash Willcocks from the Topol delivery team to talk about his experience on the Topol Fellowship, exploring the challenges and practical application using AI tools. He emphasises how clinical coding is one of those parts of the NHS most people never see but underpins almost everything. It may sit in the background, but it shapes some of the biggest decisions the NHS makes. Read his story.
Podcast in focus
BCS Insight Exchange: Digital Transformation: Why AI isn’t speeding up business
In this episode, our very own James Freed, FBCS, Deputy Director at the NHS Digital Academy joins BCS to break down the digital productivity paradox and explain why culture - not code - is the ultimate bottleneck to real progress. Why can you see the AI age everywhere but in enterprise productivity statistics? Whilst individual professionals are using AI to write code, summarise documents, and automate tasks faster than ever, organisation-wide efficiency gains remain surprisingly modest. Listen to the podcast.
The podcast also features on the NHS Digital Academy dedicated podcast page on FutureNHS where the best podcast series in health and care have been curated for ease of access and interest, for those who like to learn through listening.
Enrol on our courses
NHS England has a range of bulletins covering primary care, nursing, mental health, transformation, NHS IMPACT and other topics.
 |