Educators are the backbone of healthcare education and training, delivering vital learning experiences in universities and colleges as well as across the frontline—in NHS hospitals, neighbourhood hubs, general practices, dental practices, community pharmacies, clinics and community services.
About the NHS educator workforce programme
Every day, thousands of dedicated educator colleagues work alongside the staff they train, combining clinical knowledge with educational expertise to deliver practice learning.
High-quality education and training are vital to delivering safe, effective patient care in today's NHS and will be even more critical for meeting tomorrow's healthcare needs. Our future NHS workforce depends on having enough skilled educators, in services and education institutions, in organisational cultures where they can thrive.
The Educator Workforce Programme (EWP) was created to deliver the Educator Workforce Strategy (published March 2023). The programme works to value, expand and develop the NHS educator workforce across all professions and settings. This includes building organisational cultures where educators have protected time, resources and recognition in workforce planning.
The programme encourages environments where educators can develop through clear career paths, build their capabilities, feel valued for their contribution and maintain their wellbeing. We want the NHS to be an inclusive workplace that welcomes diversity and innovation, while also growing and retaining our talented educators.
This national programme is a key priority within NHS England's Workforce, Training and Education Directorate, supporting the 10-Year Health Plan for the NHS.
It brings colleagues together to strengthen healthcare education across England, working closely with many partners to ensure success, including:
- healthcare regulators
- professional councils
- education providers
- students and learners
- social care organisations
- NHS employer organisations
- professional bodies
- government departments
- partners across the UK
By collaborating across all healthcare professions and settings throughout England, we're building a stronger workforce for now and in the future.
While the NHS Educator Workforce Strategy focuses primarily on educators in NHS delivered services, the programme is also creating valuable partnerships with social care, universities and further education colleges. This will ensure there is sufficient expertise across all settings to create stronger connections between clinical and academic teaching environments.
Access the Educator Workforce Strategy
What the programme aims to do
The Educator Workforce Programme will work to:
- ensure we have enough high-quality educators to train and develop our current and future NHS workforce
- ensure education and training is recognised as fundamental to safe, effective care, with educators integrated into NHS service planning and delivery
- build an educator workforce that reflects the diversity of healthcare professionals and the communities they serve
- increase visibility and understanding of the crucial contribution educators make across the NHS
- help NHS staff recognise and develop their educator skills
- create clear career paths for educators
- ensure educators have protected time and resources to teach and develop their skills
- promote wellbeing and equality, diversity and inclusion in healthcare education
- ensure that all educators feel included and are treated equitably
- support innovative and technology-enhanced healthcare education
Join the educator network on NHS Futures
Eight educator programme priorities
The programme focuses on eight key priorities:
1. integrating educator roles in service planning - making sure educators are included in all workforce planning
2. protected time - ensuring educators have dedicated time and resources for their role
3. career frameworks - creating clear career paths for all educators
4. support and development - providing training and wellbeing support for educators
5. educator workforce principles - ensuring consistent standards for education are implemented across the NHS
6. equality, diversity and inclusion - building a diverse educator workforce that represents our communities
7. innovation - developing new teaching methods and digital learning approaches
8. benefits and impact - demonstrating the tangible value that educators bring to the NHS
Contact the Educator Workforce Programme
The term ‘Educator’
We use 'Educator' as an inclusive term encompassing all roles involved in healthcare workforce development across all settings.
This definition recognises that education and training occur in diverse environments, including universities, clinical settings, and across both regulated and non-regulated healthcare professions, at pre- and post-registration levels.
While different professions use varied terminology (workplace supervisors, assessors, practice educators, clinical supervisors, faculty members, preceptorship leads, educational supervisors, etc.), all these individuals share a crucial responsibility: supporting healthcare workforce development through education, supervision, and assessment to ensure patient safety and high-quality care.
Visit the defining NHS educators webpage
Real stories from NHS educators
Meet NHS educators as they share their career journeys, offer practical advice and showcase best practice to support the development of educators and the wider NHS workforce in their area.
Real stories from NHS educators
Useful information
- NHS Educator Workforce Strategy
- defining NHS educators
- NHS England education quality function
- educator voice survey
- educator principles and standards
- benefits and impact of educators
- equality, diversity and inclusion for educators
- contact the Educator Workforce Programme and join the educator network
- National Education Training Survey (NETs)
- NHS England’s Education Funding Agreement
- Education Quality Framework
- educator career frameworks (webpage coming soon)