Introduction The NHS faces unprecedented resource constraints and low morale. In response, our leaders must be responsive to patients and workforce alike. Leadership skills in clinicians are of growing importance and nurturing leaders at an undergraduate and foundation level is of recognised value.

Aim East Lancashire NHS Hospitals Trust (ELHT) recently created a leadership and management academic foundation post (LMAFP). We investigated the success of this role against other LMAFPs in the UK. We aim to share our findings in order to help bring the leadership community together, improve the current programmes and to encourage undergraduate leaders to apply.

Methods We collected information through telephone conversations with the foundation teams and deanery websites and collected feedback from trainees.

Results LMAFPs make up 5% of the AFPs in the UK, these form three clusters geographically; North West, East Midlands and South London. Of these, 62% complete the LMAFP as a 4 month block and 38% offer a half day per week over two years. Like medical education, trainees are most commonly involved in quality improvement and teaching, and to a lesser degree management meetings and representation of peers. Funding for postgraduate qualifications exists but is becoming increasingly scarce. This study was limited with low survey rate of replies from individual trainees.

Conclusion ELHT offers similar opportunities to other LMAFPs. Across the country, LMAFP posts may lack differentiation from medical education posts and access to a PGCert is valued yet funding cuts put this at risk. A possible area for improvement would be to develop a mentorship programme for these posts. Improved access to UK AFP trainees would further this study to investigate satisfaction and the impact of the AFP on future careers