29 December 2020


The Advisory Committee for the Clinical Excellence Awards (ACCEA)'s 2021 round is now open for applications. Specific to England and Wales, the scheme rewards NHS consultants and academic GPs who deliver above and beyond the standard expected of their roles. You can apply for a supporting citation from BSR as part of this.


Applying for BSR support

As a recognised nominating body, BSR is permitted to recommend a limited number of members to ACCEA and provide citations to support their applications. We'll consider applications for bronze, silver, gold and platinum awards, as well as applications for renewals.


If you'd like to be considered, you must submit an application well before the official ACCEA closing date; our deadline is 5pm on 4 February. All candidates will find out whether we can support their application in the week commencing 1 March.


There is often fierce competition for these awards and we can only offer support for a limited number of applicants; alternative support is available from the Royal College of Physicians and other similar organisations, and you can approach more than one nominating body at the same time.


Applying for a renewal

BSR also considers supporting applications for renewals, which need to be submitted if:


  • You received your current award in the 2017 round

  • You were due to renew in the cancelled 2020 round

  • Your award was last renewed in 2016 (awarded in 2012, 2007, 2002)

In some cases, award holders will renew outside of the usual cycle, and awards sometimes have to be reviewed earlier in cases where there's a change in job or significant change in job plan.


Guidance documents and application forms

ACCEA's guidance for 2021 applicants

ACCEA application form


NB: ACCEA simplified the application process for this year, and so the additional forms for domains 3, 4, and 5 (covering research and innovation, teaching and training, and leadership and management) made available in previous rounds have been removed.


Please submit your completed ACCEA application form for consideration to ceawards@rheumatology.org.uk by 5pm on 4 February; you can also call (+44) 207 842 0913 for more information. Any forms received after this time will not be considered. Requests for deadline extensions will not be granted.


Key dates:


  • 5pm, Thursday 4 February: deadline to submit applications to BSR for BSR support

  • W/c 1 March: applicants informed by BSR whether support and a citation will be made available for their application

  • 5pm, Friday 12 March: deadline for applicants to upload their form to the ACCEA website

  • W/c 15 March: BSR registers support and uploads citations for each applicant

  • 5pm, Thursday 18 March: ACCEA deadline for all submissions