BESS is fully committed to education and, as part of this offers several fellowships to assist members in developing their knowledge and skills. The awards are made at the annual meeting and are given on the basis of an interview by members of the Education Committee and Past Presidents of BESS. In total there are four fellowships awarded each year:
Please note that BESS fellowships are open to BESS Members ONLY.
AHP Fellowship (no limit on number of recipients)
The Allied Health Professional (AHP) award enables BESS AHP members with an interest in the treatment of shoulder and elbow conditions to travel to one or more centres to further their experience and knowledge in therapy. The fellowship can take the form of a travelling fellowship, postgraduate education or research support. BESS is keen to hear from AHP members who wish to undertake a postgraduate qualification, or a series of visits to an institution to gain experience with a mentor either clinically and/or academically. The committee will be offering two or three candidates a small grant of up to £500 to support these types of activities, with the remaining amount of approximately £2,000 being used towards a larger project. The total funds available will be £3,500.
Guidance is available below. Our AHP committee members have put together some useful information here.
Elbow Fellowship (Mayo) (x1)
The BESS Elbow fellowship provides support for attendance at the annual Elbow Instructional Course at the Mayo Clinic (provisional on COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time of attendance). Delegates are by invitation only and places are much sought after. Eligible applicants include ST 7/8 Orthopaedic trainees, post-CCT fellows in shoulder and elbow surgery and Consultants within their first three years of appointment. One fellowship of up to £3,500 will be awarded to the successful candidate.
Travelling Fellowships (x2)
Michael Watson Travelling Fellowship
The Michael Watson Travelling Fellowship was established in 2025 in memory of Mr Michael Selby Watson, Shoulder Surgeon at Guy’s Hospital, London, and one of the four founders of the British Elbow & Shoulder Society. Michael, who sadly passed away in 2024, served as the third President of BESS (1993–1995) and was a true pioneer of shoulder surgery.
An inspirational surgeon, teacher, artist (designer of the BESS logo), and diplomat, Michael deeply valued the importance of travel and the exchange of knowledge with colleagues around the world. It is therefore fitting that his legacy continues through this fellowship, which aims to inspire the next generation of shoulder and elbow surgeons to carry the BESS ethos internationally.
A £5,000 Travelling Fellowship is available to support overseas visits that advance clinical skills in shoulder and elbow surgery. This award is intended solely for clinical training and development, not for research.
Travelling Fellowship
One £3,500 Travelling Fellowship is also available to support visits to one or more centres within the UK or overseas. These fellowships similarly focus on enhancing clinical skills in shoulder and elbow surgery and are not intended for research purposes.
Eligibility for both fellowships
Applications are welcomed from:
ST7/8 Orthopaedic trainees
Post‑CCT fellows in shoulder and elbow surgery
Consultants at any stage of their career
Applicants are advised to obtain agreement in principle from proposed host centres, to be submitted in support of their application.
Application Form and Further Information
The application form is online and will be available once the process is open.
Your form must include:*
- Proposal that the applicant wants funding towards (travelling fellowship, postgraduate education, research)*
- Dates and costed plans for travel and accommodation if applicable. Claims for subsistence will not be met.*
- How your practice may be improved through this award*
- Short Curriculum Vitae (2 pages ONLY, full CVs will not be accepted)
Please ensure you have read the guidance above relevant to your fellowship application. Shortlisted applicants will hear from us no later than the beginning of May 2026 by email. Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview at the BESS Annual Scientific Meeting at the Glasshouse in Newcastle. There is no option to attend an interview virtually for these awards. The interview is expected to be Thursday, 25 June 2026. Interviews will last no more than 15 minutes and you will be allocated a timeslot. The panel will consist of two members of the BESS Education Committee. Successful candidates must submit a finalised plan to the Education Committee for approval within three months of the award. This must include evidence of approval of the visit by each host hospital. To qualify for the release of funds, the Fellowship must be concluded before the 2027 annual scientific meeting. In addition to submission of receipts for travel and accommodation expenses incurred, the recipient is required to submit a summary of their experience for publication on the BESS website (max 1,000 words and four images).
You can find out more about our conference here.
The closing date for applications is 23:59, Monday, 4 May 2026
Please email education@bess.ac.uk with any questions regarding the application process.
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