Learning and Development

Learning and Development

Training and resources to develop your skills and support your career.

On this page:

Learning culture

We believe that learning should not be limited to courses, classrooms and workshops. Our learning culture involves staff who are willing to teach and learn from each other. We encourage the sharing and learning of knowledge and good practices between staff informally, easily and frequently.

Our mission statement: “We influence, engage and develop a skilled workforce to deliver high quality health & social care research.”

NIHR Learn and how to access it

NIHR Learn aims to develop your knowledge of clinical research and support your work. You can access the platform if you are employed by the NIHR, NHS, a UK university or other UK publicly funded organisation conducting and supporting clinical research.

Find out more about NIHR Learn and how to access it.

You’ll find many opportunities to develop your skills using NIHR Learn, including:

NIHR Learn Insights

This interactive resource pulls together the latest content on NIHR Learn. You’ll find tools and resources to identify and provide solutions to your learning and development needs.

Take a look: NIHR Learn Insights

Research skills training from the CRN North West London

We offer a number of training opportunities to the research community in our region, including:

  • Attributing the costs of health and social care Research and Development (AcoRD)
  • Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Consolidation Sessions
  • Introduction to Informed Consent
  • Next Steps in Clinical Research online
  • SoECAT and Excess Treatment Cost Management
  • Training and Facilitation Skills

Training delivered by the Network can be booked via NIHR Learn, but booking is not open throughout the year. Find current scheduled training dates on the CRN North West London website.

Visit the CRN North West London page on NIHR Learn for more details about our training.

Research Mentor Directory – for London and the South East

The Research Mentor Directory aims to connect mentors and mentees working in health and care research across London and the South East.

It’s available to anyone involved in health and care research associated with the CRNs in:

  • North West London
  • North Thames
  • South London
  • Kent, Surrey and Sussex

Professional and confidential mentoring relationships can be formed from anywhere within these regions.

Become a mentor

A mentor is someone who supports the development of another by giving advice and guidance based on their experience and expertise. Good mentors are increasingly valuable in research.

Benefits of becoming a mentor:

  • You’ll be supporting researchers of the future
  • Supporting high quality research
  • Sharing your knowledge and skills to grow local research talent

Become a mentee

Building a relationship with a mentor is a great way to think about your career development. It has many advantages:

  • Building resilience
  • Improving performance
  • Obtaining a new perspective
  • Improving relationships
  • Preparation for difficult conversations
  • Enhancing self awareness
  • Supporting career development and staff retention

Sign up: Research Mentor Directory

Become a registered CRP

The skills and knowledge of Clinical Research Practitioners (CRPs) plays an important role in the delivery of research across all health and care settings in the UK, these roles include but are not limited to: Clinical Studies Officer, Research Practitioner, Clinical Trials Practitioner, Clinical Trials Officer, among others.

The CRP Directory and Accredited Register are part of a national strategy to enable the growth and professional development of CRP roles as a key part of the research delivery workforce.

Find out more about the CRP Directory and Accredited Register.

CRP Engagement Leads

CRP Engagement Leads support the development of the local, regional and national CRP community of practice. They support colleagues in the region on their journey to registration.

Your local CRP Engagement Leads in North West London are:

Adedeji Ogunlana
Rhian Bull
Uche Nwanguma

Gateway to accreditation for CRPs without a degree

The Experienced Practitioner Gateway provides a pathway to join the CRP Accredited Register for experienced CRPs who do not have a degree or equivalent experience.

More details: Gateway to accreditation for CRPs without a degree

NIHR Academy

The NIHR Academy aims to develop a highly-skilled academic research workforce capable of advancing the best research.

  • NIHR awards – fellowships, professorships etc.
  • Career development training
  • Career recognition awards
  • Events

Find out more: NIHR Academy

Resources by partner organisation

Below is a summary of where to go for learning and development support within your organisation.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
and West London NHS Trust

Staff are eligible for free training via Noclor.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

The Trust is a partner of the Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC), along with:

  • Imperial College London
  • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
  • The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
  • The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR)
  • Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals

See Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust section for details.

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Many learning and development opportunities offered internally via the Trust. Take a look at the learning and development section of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust intranet. Find Cerner training, clinical systems e-learning, and much more.

Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC)
The Trust is a partner of the Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC). Learning and development opportunities are available via:

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

The R&D department organises GCP training for staff who wish to be involved in research and refresher courses to update certification.

Online GCP training accessible through Epigium. For more information, please contact Sunder Chita, Health Service Research Manager:

Telephone: 020 8869 5829
Email: sunderchita@nhs.net

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on FutureLearn

The NIHR has developed free online training courses in collaboration with the University of Leads, known as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). They are available via FutureLearn.

The courses can be accessed throughout the year, but with lead educator and mentor support available during key dates.

You can access many other courses via FutureLearn (there may be a fee), including:

Discover your learning style

Over the years you have probably developed learning “habits” that help you benefit more from some experiences than from others. Complete the Learning Style Quiz to help pinpoint your learning preferences so you are in a better position to select learning experiences that suit your style.

Discover your learning style: The Learning Style Quiz.

More training providers

NHS providers

Other providers

Get in touch

If you have any thoughts or questions about your learning and development needs, or if you are looking for support, please do get in touch:

Anne Price, Workforce Development and Learning Manager: anne.price@nihr.ac.uk