Inclusive Academic Futures Programme

Over three years, the programme will support early career researchers through training and support, and up to sixty people through direct awards and mentoring. It is delivered through the ECR Network's UK-wide community of over 10,000 members and designed with the Network's ethos at its heart ‘by ECRs, for ECRs’.

What the programme offers

Training workshops:

An online introduction open to everyone interested in the programme, followed by half-day in-person workshops for those intending to apply, covering bid and proposal writing, building networks, research collaboration and peer review skills, across three regions. Travel, accessibility and childcare support is available for all in-person attendees.

Capacity Building Awards:

Up to 20 awards each year of up to £8,000, over nine months, for the suggested activity within one of two routes: a Collaboration Route, which aims to seed partnerships that will lead to future research funding, and a Publication Route, which aims to bring together scholars of your choosing to help your work reach publication. Each award also includes up to £2,000 for additional needs, such as BSL translation or specialist equipment.

Mentoring and skills:

Every award holder joins the Network's Encourage and Engage mentorship programme and can take part in the Skills Passport, building a recognised record of the skills they develop.

Who it is for

The awards are open to ECR Network members working in the SHAPE disciplines who self-identify as disabled researchers and/or as being from an ethnic minority, defined for this programme as Asian, Black, Mixed or Other Ethnic Origin. Independent researchers, including those at Independent Research Organisations and charities, and those without an institutional affiliation, are warmly encouraged to take part.

Support that enables diverse participation

Every stage of the programme is designed to remove barriers, not create them. All events include accessibility features as standard and access requirements are asked about at every booking. Travel and accommodation support is available for in-person events, and the ECR Network Inclusive Participation Fund can cover costs such as carer or support-worker costs, accessible transport and assistive software. 

• 1. Join the ECR Network (free, for researchers within 10 years of their PhD or with equivalent research experience)
• 2. Attend the online introduction or watch the recording afterwards.
• 3. Come to an in-person workshop in early 2027; attendance at both workshop stages is a requirement before applying for an award
• 4. Apply for a Capacity Building Award when the round opens in spring 2027; full scheme guidance will be published on this page

Key dates will be published on this page as they are confirmed.

For questions about the programme, contact [email protected].