07/11/2008 – Please note that the Breaking Through programme is now closed to applications.

12/11/2008 – Online testing for the Breaking Through programme is now closed.

With 1.3 million people dedicated to looking after 60 million people from their very first breath until their last, the National Health Service is one of the most innovative, fascinating and complex systems in the world. Since its creation 60 years ago, it’s been constantly evolving in line with a dynamically changing population, rising to fresh challenge and reinventing how best to get ever better.

The National Breaking Through Programme has been designed to help us lead in more ways than one. As one of the development threads that’s revolutionising the NHS for the benefit of all, it’s also aimed at identifying, developing and positioning talented managers from a BME background into director level opportunities.

And it’s all about leading through inspiration, motivating people and visibly demonstrating our commitment to harnessing the talents of staff from all disciplines and backgrounds.

Make the difference: change a changing nation.

Explore our Case Studies and find out more about how the NHS is leading the way - from Formula 1 surgery to reducing our carbon footprint, from radical infection control to virtual reality training...