Earlier this month Doctorpreneurs was awarded a place on the Health Foundation’s ‘Supporting Networks’ pilot programme, providing us with ten days of expert faculty input to help develop and build the network and £3,000 of funding for networking events.
Over recent weeks we have also been approached by Cambridge University students on business and entrepreneurship courses looking to undertake internships with us and we are in the process of growing our team and establishing new collaborations with several entrepreneurial individuals and organisations (more on all of this soon). With the support of the Health Foundation, we will be looking to expand the network over the next few months, build strong partnerships and hold a range of events to educate and connect those interested in healthcare entrepreneurship. Exciting times ahead – watch this space!
The Health Foundation’s Supporting Networks Programme
During the programme, which will commence next week, we will go through a tailored diagnostic process to identify appropriate support, resources and specific inputs needed, before beginning work with a team of faculty experts.
Our aims will be to better understand how we can become an effective and sustainable network, develop a clear purpose and focus and successfully connect people involved in healthcare entrepreneurship and innovation. We’ll be holding networking events in Cambridge and London beginning in 2012 and I’d be delighted to hear from anyone interested in attending these with suggestions as to the kind of events you’d like to see happen – workshops, seminars, invited speakers, informal networking… please do drop me a line at claire@doctorpreneurs.co.uk with your thoughts and ideas.
As this is a pilot phase of the programme, we will be providing feedback to the Health Foundation about our experience as the programme is to be launched publicly in due course.
The aims of the programme
This programme has been designed by the Health Foundation based upon their belief that networks are becoming all the more important in driving through lasting improvements in healthcare. However, such networks, despite strong objectives, often fail if they lack the strategy, knowledge and capacity to function effectively.
The support offered is based on a growing body of knowledge about what makes a network effective and how to design, build and sustain one. With this programme the Health Foundation’s aim is to provide networks that contribute to improving healthcare with the right support and advice to help them realise their potential. The support will be tailored to each individual network and will range from advice about how to recruit more members and exploit social media to help in designing networks that have diverse stakeholders or in influencing policy and practice.
For more information about the programme and details of how to apply for future rounds of awards, visit the Health Foundation’s Supporting Networks pages.
About the Health Foundation
The Health Foundation is an independent charity whose work aims to continuously improve the quality of healthcare in the UK. Working at all levels of the healthcare system, they aim to develop the technical skills, leadership, capacity, knowledge and ‘will for change’ essential for real and lasting improvement.
Some examples of the work they do include commissioning research, reviewing and sharing new ideas, running a range of improvement programmes, influencing policy makers, collaborating with and supporting leaders and networks of individuals, teams and organisations.
The Health Foundation is on twitter: @HealthFdn