In a move set to transform imaging education, Alliance Medical (AML) and the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) have joined forces to co-design and develop the UK’s first PET-CT Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert). The programme is expected to welcome its first cohort in September 2026. The partnership represents a high-level strategic collaboration focused on advancing innovation in education and training, skills enhancement, and workforce development.
This initiative responds directly to the growing demand for PET-CT imaging as a diagnostic tool, addressing workforce needs by creating robust educational pathways that will support the growth, accessibility, and delivery of this advanced imaging modality.
Pete Winchester, Alliance Medical’s Managing Director, said:
“We achieve truly remarkable things – combining clinical expertise with cutting-edge digital technology to lead the UK’s most comprehensive integrated PET-CT network. As a trusted NHS partner, we’re delivering some of the most advanced medical imaging services available today, helping to achieve earlier cancer diagnoses and driving innovations in dementia care and treatment. Our success is built on strong, collaborative relationships with partners, ensuring the best possible outcomes for our patients. This collaboration with UWE Bristol will be no exception – together, we will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare innovation and patient care.”
This partnership unites AML’s clinical excellence as a National PET-CT Contract Holder for NHS England, and its position as a sector leader in molecular imaging, with UWE Bristol’s expertise in healthcare education. Together, they aim to set a new standard in specialist training, equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to meet future service demands. The new PET-CT PG Cert will enable diagnostic radiographers and nuclear medicine technologists to deliver high-quality care in an increasingly complex and demanding healthcare landscape.
Dr Adele Drew-Hill, Dean and Head of UWE Bristol’s School of Health and Social Wellbeing, said:
“We are so pleased to announce this strategic partnership with AML. This collaboration enables us to expand our strong portfolio of sector-leading programmes in diagnostic imaging and nuclear medicine. We are extremely proud that this PG Cert is the first qualification of its kind in the UK – a shining example of how both UWE Bristol and AML continue to lead in advanced diagnostic imaging, improving outcomes for patients and meeting the needs of employers across the sector. This collaborative development marks the beginning of wider strategic initiatives that we will be exploring, and we are excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring.”
The programme also represents a benchmark in collaborative education, proudly setting a framework for industry and academia to work together to expand diagnostic capacity, and drive innovation across the NHS and beyond.
Claire Eckersley, Strategic Workforce Partnership Manager for Alliance Medical, says:
“This is more than a qualification, it’s a strategic investment in the future of UK diagnostics. By bridging the gap between nuclear medicine training and PET-CT practice, we are leading the next generation of imaging services; and we’re incredibly proud to be co-developing this curriculum with UWE Bristol.”
Angela Meadows, Molecular Imaging Specialist Advisor for Alliance Medical, adds:
“PET-CT is now an essential and expanding imaging technology within modern diagnostics. It deserves a qualification in its own right. This PG Cert offers a university validated route that recognises PET-CT as a specialist discipline and supports the development of the future workforce.”
Together, we’re:
Empowering People. Strengthening Partnerships. Transforming Patient Care.
AML is a leading provider of diagnostic imaging services in the UK, operating a nationwide network of advanced imaging centres and mobile units. Beyond PET-CT, AML offers MRI, CT, and molecular imaging services, supporting timely diagnosis and treatment for patients across the NHS and private sector. The organisation is committed to continuous innovation, clinical excellence, and expanding access to high-quality imaging.
UWE Bristol has a global and inclusive outlook, with approximately 38,000 students and strong industry networks and connections with over 1,000 employers. RISE – standing for Research, Innovation, Skills and Enterprise – is UWE Bristol’s institutional framework which shapes its purpose, culture and future growth. It brings together research focusing on real world challenges, innovation that positively impacts people and the planet, collaboration with industry to teach skills for the future jobs market, and supports a thriving enterprise environment at UWE Bristol’s University Enterprise Zone. UWE Bristol plays a pivotal role in the region contributing £500 million to the regional economy annually. With over £400 million invested in infrastructure, buildings and facilities across all campuses in the past 10 years, UWE Bristol is creating a place for learning that is innovative, ambitious, connected, enabling and inclusive. UWE Bristol is ranked 38th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2026. The University is rated ‘1st Class’ for sustainability, ranked 25th out of 149 higher education institutions in People & Planet’s latest sustainability league table. www.uwe.ac.uk
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