Applications for the 2026 Emerging Leaders cohort are now open.  Submit your application and use the information below to help you. Applications close 1 September 2025.

About the programme

RCS England aims to build an inclusive profession where everyone’s contribution is recognised and all feel welcome, demonstrating our commitment to fairness, gender equality and anti-racism. To do this, we need more women to get involved with the leadership of the College and healthcare organisations in general. As a surgeon or dental surgeon, leadership opportunities are available to you throughout your career. However, external and internal factors such as imposter syndrome, time constraints, family commitments or financial situation, can stop you from applying for roles in which you have the potential to excel.

The Emerging Leaders programme empowers women and non-binary individuals to discover and refine their unique leadership style and voice even in challenging environments. With a focus on transformational leadership, we seek aspiring inclusive leaders who are ready to advance their careers, enhance their skills and expand their networks. This programme is designed for those eager to influence positive change and create a more inclusive environment as they step into formal leadership roles.

10 years of Emerging Leaders

Now in its tenth year, the programme continues to address the pressing need for greater diversity in surgical leadership. While women make up nearly 60% of medical students, only 16.3% of surgical consultants are women as of 2025. At the current rate of progress, some specialties may take another 60 years to achieve gender parity. The Emerging Leaders programme plays a vital role in closing this gap by equipping participants with the skills, confidence and support needed to lead.

Past participants have gone on to roles such as RCS England Council member, medical school dean, national committee chair and FDS Board member. According to participant surveys we know that 100% of respondents have successfully secured leadership roles in the NHS, with over 80% holding more than one position. Many have also taken up informal leadership roles, such as member of the working party on sexual misconduct in surgery or director of a trust simulation centre. Read more.

91% of survey participants say the Emerging Leaders programme directly impacted their leadership journey

With limited places and increasing demand, our selection criteria will prioritise those with fewer formal leadership opportunities to date, ensuring the greatest impact and access for those who can gain the most from this programme. Emerging Leaders is a rare opportunity to gain tailored and personalised support and a lasting professional network.

Meet our current Emerging Leaders

For more experienced leaders, we offer a ‘Ready for Leadership’ event, showcasing senior leadership opportunities and a range of diverse career journeys and offering networking and professional development. If you are interested in learning more about the annual event, please contact: emergingleaders@rcseng.ac.uk

‘Having concentrated on delivering excellence in clinical care and training as a consultant surgeon for the past decade, the Lady Estelle Wolfson Fellowship programme has now offered a unique insight into how the Royal College of Surgeons functions, and provided an opportunity to explore how one might usefully contribute to our profession in the future.’

Nicola Fearnhead, RCS Council Member and Emerging Leaders participant 2015–16

Benefits

What are the benefits of being an Emerging Leader?

  • develop an understanding of leadership roles and responsibilities, while building confidence and a personal leadership style;
  • gain support in navigating challenges of progressing into leadership;
  • engage with senior leaders at RCS England and in the wider surgical profession;
  • access high-profile meetings at RCS England, such as Council and Standing Committee meetings;
  • get involved in meaningful RCS England activities and contribute to positive change;
  • build connections through peer support and the alumni network;
  • gain 56 CPD points.

‘The fellowship allowed me to develop my leadership style, but also to challenge the traditional stereotypes of women in leadership roles and give me the inspiration and confidence to continue to break glass ceilings which have only just begun to shatter. Taking part in the Emerging Leaders Fellowship allowed me to learn about different leadership styles from inspiring women and mentors which in turn helped me develop the inspiring leader I wish to become.

‘I have witnessed first-hand the work ethic, team spirit and proactive implementation of the College’s values. The opportunity to contribute to this environment as well as opportunities to continuously improve and effect positive change, have been invaluable to me as an individual, a clinician, and a mentor.’

Sara Hosni, past Emerging Leaders participant

Support for participants with caring responsibilities

The Emerging Leaders programme provides support for all participants who are parents or who have caring responsibilities. We will cover the cost of childcare to attend on-site events where appropriate but also have facilities in the College building to enable parents or carers to bring their children or childminder if they are very young. There also facilities for expressing and feeding babies.

We are mindful that the working day or annual calendar does not always match the rhythm of those with children so we will always be as flexible as we can with different elements of the programme. For example, online workshops are always recorded to watch at a later time, e-Learning modules can be accessed whenever suits participants, the time of mentor meetings are set by both parties and a large number of Council meetings are conducted online to eliminate the issue of travel time. We also endeavour to make sure that the annual calendar of events does not clash with school term times and holidays.

‘The Lady Estelle Wolfson Leadership Fellowship has provided valuable mentorship and a (super) fast-track in my career. There are opportunities to attend a multitude of RCS committee meetings, to deliver teaching at RCS Educational Courses, and to participate in the design of marketing resources. Networking with a diverse group of Fellows has offered informal support and contacts for the future. As the year draws to an end, I have been successfully appointed to a programme director role – a leadership opportunity that I had not dreamt of this time last year. My sincere thanks to RCS and FDS for your support. If you’re thinking about applying – stop thinking and just go for it.’

Laura Gartshore, 2018–19

Application criteria

To be eligible for the Emerging Leaders Programme, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Identify as a woman or as a non-binary person who is comfortable in a space that prioritises the experiences of women.
  • Reside in the UK for the full duration of the two-year programme.
  • Hold fellowship or membership with The Royal College of Surgeons of England at the time of application and throughout the duration of the programme. Applications will be verified upon submission, so we recommend confirming your membership status with our membership team before applying: membership@rcseng.ac.uk. Please note: Membership or fellowship with another College does not qualify you for this programme—you must be affiliated with The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of people who work in surgery, dentistry and medicine, including those who work less than full time. We are also keen to achieve a spread of appointments across specialties and geographical regions.

You do not have to have reached a certain grade to apply, people are ready for leadership at different stages of their careers, and we don’t exclude anyone purely on career grade. Current Emerging Leaders and alumni include Core Surgical trainees, ST3-8, post-CCT fellows and consultants. We tailor the programme each year to ensure that the content delivered is appropriate and applicable to participants.

Application support

Before applying, we strongly recommend that you familiarise yourself with the programme requirements and confirm your ability to prioritise and attend all programme elements, including in-person events. If you are considering other professional commitments, please discuss them with the programme manager before submitting your application.

The application form collects general information, and when you reach the three key questions, we recommend taking your time to thoughtfully craft your responses. Shortlisters will review all three questions, so there’s no need to repeat yourself. Please note the word limit for each question is 4,000 characters (including spaces), roughly 500 words.

When preparing your answers to the three questions, please ensure you:

  • Demonstrate self-awareness and a commitment to professional and personal development, with no or limited prior access to formal structured leadership programmes (short or mandatory courses are acceptable);
  • Show that you are aspiring to take on formal leadership roles within the next 2–5 years as part of your career plan.
  • Demonstrate commitment to an inclusive leadership mindset, embodying diversity, equity and inclusion principles, and actively welcoming diversity of thought.
  • Convey a clear ambition to lead, with a sense of purpose and vision.

We are committed to supporting personal and professional development in relation to the Emerging Leaders programme. You will find materials below to support you through the application and interview process. We hope these resources will be useful for your Emerging Leaders application, and that they will also provide valuable context and tools to help you apply for other leadership roles.

We share examples of previous applications (redacted for privacy) with you to illustrate the level of detail expected in your responses to the three key questions. These examples can help guide you in crafting answers that will strengthen your chances of advancing to the shortlisting phase.

We have created a short video featuring some of the Emerging Leaders steering group talking about the programme and answering some of the frequently asked questions.

If you have any questions, please contact us at emergingleaders@rcseng.ac.uk

This timeline will be updated with more definitive dates shortly before the 2025 applications open, there will be multiple dependencies within these dates so they may vary slightly, but this is what we are hoping to achieve:

  • Applications open: 15 May 2025
  • Applications close: 1 September 2025
  • Interview period: Early to mid-November 2025
  • Successful participants contacted: December 2025
  • Feedback: Mid-late January
  • Welcome event: Late January or early February 2026

This formal leadership programme holds a value of £7,000 +VAT per person and is fully funded. This includes access to all e-learning modules, face-to-face events, mentorship and networking opportunities. Travel and accommodation for attendance at face-to-face events will be covered by RCS England in accordance with our expenses policy.

What does the Emerging Leaders Programme involve?

To receive your certificate during the celebration event at the conclusion of your second year, you must have completed the activities below in full, prioritising your availability for scheduled dates and events. If you anticipate challenges in meeting the criteria at any point, please feel free to discuss this with the Emerging Leaders team. Open communication is encouraged.

Year 1

Attend the Welcome Event: Held at the College, typically in late January or early February, it’s the opportunity to meet your fellow cohort members. In Year 1, you will give a 5-minute presentation to your cohort on the theme of Leadership and/or your impact as a leader. In the afternoon, you’ll join a workshop with the second-year cohort.

Mentoring: You’ll be paired with an experienced senior leader to explore your leadership journey. We recommend having 1-2 meetings per year, which can be conducted by phone, online, or in person—whichever you both prefer.

E-learning modules: You’ll receive access to the modules before the Welcome Event; while reading the content beforehand isn’t required, we recommend checking your access to avoid any issues. All compulsory content on the VLE must be completed by the end of the two-year programme.

Strengths analysis: Scheduled for March and April, you will complete an online assessment and then attend a 30-minute coaching session to discuss the results.

Governance meetings: You are required to attend 1-2 sessions between July of the first year and June of the second year. The Emerging Leaders team will provide dates and times well in advance for you to confirm your availability. Many meetings are now held in a hybrid format for increased accessibility.

Workshops: There are two full-day workshops in the first year of the programme, typically held in May and October. Dates will be provided well in advance, so please prioritise your attendance.

Attend the celebration event: Held at the College in December, you will take part in a series of workshops in the morning to reflect on your leadership journey and start planning your Leading Change project. In the afternoon, you will join the second-year cohort for their project presentations.

Year 2

Attend the welcome event: Held at the College, typically in late January or early February, you will spend the morning in a workshop with your fellow cohort members, before joining the first year cohort in the afternoon.

Leading change project: At the start of your second year, you’ll be asked to conceive, develop and execute a change project in an area of professional or personal interest. You will then present your project in a 10-minute presentation at the December celebration event.

E-learning modules: Use this time to complete any modules you missed in your first year or revisit them at your leisure. You are also invited to complete the optional modules in your second year.

Mentoring: Continue your mentorship journey by having 1-2 meetings per year, which can be conducted by phone, online, or in person—whichever you both prefer.

Ready for leadership event: Held annually at the College, the event focuses on relevant leadership themes and provides an excellent networking and learning opportunity. We invite the second-year cohort, programme alumnae, and senior leaders in medicine and dentistry to join us for this event.

Governance meetings: You are required to attend 1-2 sessions between July of the first year and June of the second year. The Emerging Leaders team will provide dates and times well in advance for you to confirm your availability. Many meetings are now held in a hybrid format for increased accessibility.

Celebration event: This December event is both a celebration of your programme completion and a look towards the future. You’ll present your Leading Change project to your cohort, the first-year cohort, mentor, and senior leaders within the College, offering you a platform to showcase your achievements and apply the skills and knowledge gained over the two-year programme.

Beyond Year 2

Join the Emerging Leaders Alumnae Network: Stay informed about exclusive opportunities and events at the College by becoming part of this dynamic community.

Mentor new cohort members: Share your insights and cultivate meaningful relationships with like-minded individuals.

Engage in the application process: Actively contribute to the shortlisting and interview stages to ensure a comprehensive selection experience.

Deliver a workshop or give a presentation on a topic of interest: Share your expertise and insights to inspire and engage others.

Expand your network as an alumnae member: Actively cultivate connections to enhance your professional relationships and opportunities.

Our e-learning modules cover a wide range of valuable and engaging topics, we encourage you and your cohort members to take the time to discuss these topics in the VLE forums.

Compulsory modules (to be completed in the first year)

What is leadership? (e-learning)

  • Your own leadership type and style
  • Behaviours of an effective leader

Leadership theories (e-learning)

  • Some theories and evidence
  • Leader or manager

Equality, diversity and inclusion (e-learning)

  • Inclusive leadership behaviour
  • Creative responses to challenging situations

Peer support (e-learning)

  • Mentoring and coaching
  • Giving and receiving feedback

Optional modules (available in the second year)

Teamwork (e-learning)

  • Building an effective team and diverse strengths within a team
  • Creating a psychologically safe working environment

Networking (e-learning)

  • Grasping opportunities, boosting visibility and presence
  • Effective observation

Being a positive influencer (e-learning)

  • Inspiring others and being a good role model
  • Communication skills including body language

Success (e-learning)

  • What does success look like for you?
  • Your vision for you as a leader and action plan

Additional resources available to participants

Leadership in the College (video)

  • Leadership competence linked to the aims, vision and values of the College
  • Pathways to leadership and structure and governance of the College

Presentation Skills (videos)

  • Maximising your impact
  • Making people listen and structuring your presentation

Recordings of previous online workshops (videos) – resource library will grow each year

  • Social media presence
  • Job planning
  • Flexible working

Q: How do I know if I’m ready for the programme?

A: We are looking for people who are aiming to take up influential leadership positions in the next 2–5 years. You have probably already taken the first steps towards leadership, perhaps through sitting on a committee or managing a group of junior doctors, and you have your eye on moving towards senior leadership positions such as Training Programme Director or RCS Council Member. However, this is just an example, and if you think you would benefit from the programme, we encourage you to apply.

Q: I’m a dental / medical student, can I apply for the programme?

If you meet all the application requirements, you can apply, however, to get the most out of the programme, we do recommend waiting until you have begun CST 1 / 2 or equivalent.

Q: If I am a member of another Royal College, can I apply?

Although you may belong to multiple Colleges, please note that eligibility for the programme requires you to be a member or Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Q: What if unforeseen circumstances occur and I cannot complete the programme or accept a place?

We are committed to supporting you throughout the programme. While we have policies in place for deferrals and withdrawals, all requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. We will work closely with you to accommodate your individual needs and preferences alongside the programme requirements to the best of our ability.

Q: I don’t meet the application criteria because I identify as a man, can I still apply?

If you do not identify as a woman or non-binary individual, you are not eligible to apply for or join this programme. However, we encourage you to explore a wide range of leadership opportunities both within the NHS and through external organisations. Some examples include:

https://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/programmes/ https://www.futurelearn.com/partners/nhs-leadership-academy https://www.nhsprofessionals.nhs.uk/partners/academy-courses/management-and-leadership-courses https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/leadership-development https://www.fmlm.ac.uk/standards

Q: I’m on maternity leave and so my membership of RCS England is temporarily paused, can I still apply?

You are welcome to apply, as we waive all membership fees for the duration of parental, maternity or paternity leave. If you haven’t already arranged for your fees to be waived, we recommend contacting our membership team at membership@rcseng.ac.uk before applying.

If you’re already in the process of organising this, you can still proceed with your application.

Q: I will be in a different country for the interviews, but based in the UK for programme, can I still apply?

Yes, you can still apply, we will endeavour to work within your time zone as best possible but may not be able to facilitate a specific time depending on interviewer availability.

Q: Do I need to share my journal reflections?

No, these are intended for your personal reflection on your leadership journey. While you are welcome to share them if you wish, it is not mandatory.