News

Applications are now open for Cohort 9 of the Digital Ambassadors Programme, providing healthcare professionals across Yorkshire and the Humber with the knowledge, skills and confidence to support digital transformation in health and care.

To date, Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber has delivered the Digital Ambassadors Programme to eight cohorts, with over 200 digital ambassadors completing the training.

Aimed at the healthcare workforce, the programme is designed to strengthen the digital innovation, transformation, and improvement skills of the workforce, covering a wide array of topics and features guest speakers who are experts in their respective fields.

Each session provides a blend of real-world insights and theoretical knowledge on how to drive and facilitate the adoption of digital innovation and transformation within the realm of health and care.

Sandra Oates, Head of Operational Service Transformation at Locala Health and Wellbeing CiC, said:

“As a senior leader with more than 10 years’ experience leading services, including operations, transformation and improvement, and as a Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, I joined the Digital Ambassadors Programme expecting to deepen my understanding of digital innovation. What I found was a much broader and richer development experience. The programme explored the critical role of leadership, culture, co-design, governance, digital inclusion and measuring impact in delivering successful transformation.

It reinforced an important principle: being digital first, not digital only. Technology should enable better outcomes, but people, accessibility and equity must remain at the heart of service design. Learning alongside colleagues from across health and care provided valuable insight, challenge and networking opportunities, while the practical project focus helped translate learning into real-world application. I have come away with fresh perspectives, and greater confidence to lead meaningful and sustainable change.”

While the programme primarily focuses on the role of digital innovation and the conditions for success, it also champions the vital importance of patient and public involvement, co-design, and the reduction of health inequalities in the process of safeguarding the future of healthcare services.

Barbara Conneely, Head of Portfolio at Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, said:

“Following the success of the first cohorts, we are going to place an even greater emphasis on supporting participants to apply their learning in practice.

The programme is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, confidence and practical tools to help make a meaningful impact on projects within their organisation, enabling them to put their learning into practice throughout and beyond the programme.”

Programme information:

The programme comprises of nine virtual sessions, lasting two hours each. They are delivered via Microsoft Teams, utilising a blended learning approach with expert speakers, interactive sessions and peer discussions.

The programme will run virtually for nine consecutive weeks, expected to begin early September 2026 and is free for all participants. Dates for each session will be confirmed soon.

The programme at a glance

Week 1: Understanding the NHS and your role in it

Week 2: Introduction to digital technologies and innovation

Week 3: Understanding digital readiness

Week 4: Understanding the governance and legislation that support digital transformation and innovation

Week 5: Inclusive digital transformation and co-design: exploring how technology can be used to create an environment that is accessible and inclusive for everyone

Week 6: Digital innovation and the art of the possible

Week 7: How to successfully measure the impact change and how this can help to develop a case for change or a business case

Week 8: How digital innovation and transformation can help to reduce inequity and inequalities in health

Week 9: Ambassador’s network and course reflections: consolidating and reflecting upon the lessons learnt in the previous modules.

How to apply

Express your interest today by completing our Digital Ambassadors Programme: Applications – Cohort 9 – Fill in form

If you have any queries about the programme or would like to request a copy of the programme’s prospectus, please contact sahar.kazmi@healthinnovationyh.com