Two nurses – one working in an education and training department, the other in a research and development department in a mental health trust – have established a research and development spoke placement experience for mental health nursing students. They did this in collaboration with a colleague from a local university. A shared protocol was developed for the placement that promotes research awareness and provides an opportunity for research and development to be viewed as a career pathway for mental health nurses. The protocol framework has enabled clear dialogue between the trust and the university about providing the right research experience for mental health students at an early stage of their careers. This article describes the development and aims of the spoke placement and the research module that accompanies it.