AHP - Careers in academia and leadership

Our health and care system is facing increasing challenges for capacity, leading to the demand for a greater number of staff to be trained. As the third largest workforce within the NHS, it is well recognised that thousands of additional AHPs will be required by 2024 to meet this increased demand.

To deliver on the supply agenda, the allied health professions need to attract more students, with the majority of these qualifying through pre-registration education programmes.

With more and more students entering AHP training courses, increased numbers of educators are required to train these future professionals. These AHP educators also need to be represented in leadership, to ensure AHPs have a proportionate voice in governance, policy and strategic direction.

This roadmap builds on the findings of two recent reports commissioned by NHS England; Allied Health Professions Leadership in Academia: Opportunities, challenges and current positioning. AHP Leadership in Academia: Skills and Attributes. 

This roadmap has been designed to encourage AHPs and student AHPs to think more strategically about career planning and to consider the wider horizon of potential career directions in academia.

Produced in collaboration with the University of the West of England