Footnotes

• Contributors PL wrote the paper. DH checked the paper for factual accuracy.

• Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

• Competing interests The Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management managed the English clinical fellowship schemes referred to in the paper. PL and DH led the delivery of the schemes.

• Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.