Funding call 3 

Funding opportunity from NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health - Public Health Engagement Leads (PHELs) 

Opportunity for colleagues working in local authorities to apply for funding (0.1FTE) for an initial period of 24 months (with the potential to extend) to be a PHEL.

This call is open to colleagues working in local authorities in England, including those with NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRC) or Local Authority Research Practitioner (LARP) funding. Those in the devolved nations should speak with relevant funders to explore similar opportunities.  Applications are to be submitted at an individual level and are open to existing local authority employees. 

Applications are now being accepted to fund a Public Health Engagement Lead (PHEL).  

The vision for the PHEL role is to facilitate connections between local authorities, HDRCs, LARPs and the SCPH by promoting the value of being a research active organisation. These posts involve working across several local authorities, providing opportunities to advocate for and develop partnership work to build stronger links with appropriate expertise and infrastructure. Successful applicants can successfully connect, promote and advocate for research and the role of the SCPH across their geographical area.  

Eligibility 

Applicants will currently be working in a role tackling the wider determinants of health. We are seeking individuals who can demonstrate strong leadership skills, for example, those working in senior public health, policy, or community development roles. 

The funding for the PHEL role is intended to build capacity across local authorities and key partners. A key expectation is that the postholder will have strong and regular access to stakeholders at all levels, especially elected members, chief executives, directors and board level across the local authority.  We would also expect similar engagement from Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) representatives, and the public; and the SCPH, NIHR, and other research funders and organisations. While skills and abilities to influence are more important than the grade of the applicant, we expect applications to address engagement at senior levels clearly. 

Previous applicants have worked in a variety of roles and are listed below. This list is not exhaustive as emphasis is placed on the attributes an individual can bring to the PHEL role i.e. access and ability to influence senior leaders and build and maintain networks and relationships.    

• Public Health Practitioner roles 

• Public Health Intelligence roles 

• Public Health Consultants 

• Public Health Principals 

• Public Health Specialists 

• Public Health Leads 

• Research Leads 

• Programme Managers 

Geography  

Applicants are asked to provide a list of local authorities they will cover in the PHEL role if successfully funded, with a rationale for their proposed area. This must include the applicant’s employing local authority plus at least one other and could include, for example, devolved or combined authority areas, ICS or OHID footprint (suggestions are invited in the application). 

Whilst there is no limit on the number of local authorities that can be included, the proposed area must be realistic in terms of the allocated time for the role and what can be meaningfully achieved within this.   

We encourage applicants to review the existing PHEL coverage, and to speak to us before submitting an application. We can help to determine if there is a suitable gap and signpost to specific people you may wish to speak to before applying. 

Where there are multiple applications covering similar geographical areas, the panel will further assess those deemed fundable on: 

• the strength of the application based on the assessment criteria and scoring methodology 

• the potential to flex geographical boundaries to complement both the existing PHEL coverage and other fundable applications. 

Public and Community Partnerships and Research Inclusion 

SCPH has placed public and community partnerships (PCP) and research inclusion (RI) at the heart of our work to ensure we make a meaningful difference to public health and reduce inequalities. We expect PHELs to be a champion for both PCP and RI in their role as they are both key components of being a research active organisation. 

Current PHELs do this in different ways, for example, attending regional PCP or RI development groups, supporting PCP and RI within research projects, sitting on funding panels related to PCP, and chairing national PCP evaluation meetings. 

Details of the award  

• The local authority will receive 0.1FTE per award for an initial period of 24 months (with the potential to extend) for the successful applicant to undertake the PHEL role.  

• Funding is available from 01 February 2026 and must commence before 30 April 2026  

• The award will be a contribution (0.1FTE) to the salary costs of the individual and includes the employer’s contribution to National Insurance and Superannuation.   

• The award will provide dedicated, protected time for the individual to undertake the responsibilities in the PHEL role description.  

• Completed applications require the signature of the Director for Public Health. The local authority will be expected to fully support the PHEL to undertake the responsibilities of the role, providing encouragement, facilitation of opportunities across their specified geography and a willingness to flex to enable the PHEL’s involvement in networks and events.  

Apply  

Before applying, please read the PHEL role description. Detail is provided in the application form to help guide applicants. It is a supportive application process, and we strongly encourage anyone wishing to apply to contact the SCPH for an informal discussion  

To apply, please download the application form below and submit by email to NIHR.RSS.PublicHealth@newcastle.ac.uk before the deadline outlined above.  Please contact us if you have any queries about this call.  

Local authorities awarded PHEL funding are subject to NIHR Standard Award Terms and Conditions in so far as they are relevant to PHELs. Local authorities are supplied with a PHEL award contract that supersedes some T&Cs where appropriate. 

This funding is provided by the NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health (SCPH) delivered by Newcastle University and Partners.  

Application timeline:  

• Opening date for applications: Tuesday 16 September 2025 

• Closing date for applications: 5pm on Tuesday 21 October 2025  

• Panel meeting date: November 2025  

• Decisions announced: By Tuesday 9 December 2025  

• Funding commences: 1 February 2026 – 30 April 2026 

This funding is provided by the NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health (SCPH) delivered by Newcastle University and Partners.