Award categories

Moving to Excellence Awards

Rising Star

This award recognises an individual with potential to develop, who is making a really valued contribution to their team and/or department or service. The individual must have worked within the Group for under two years.

Wellbeing Champion

This award recognises an individual or team who goes above and beyond to support the health, wellbeing and happiness of colleagues across our Group. They will have played a vital role in creating a positive, inclusive and compassionate working environment. This award celebrates those who make a real difference to how it feels to work in our organisation, helping colleagues to thrive so they can continue to deliver outstanding care for our communities.

Research, Improvement and Innovation Champion

This award recognises an individual or team that demonstrates excellence in research, improvement and innovation by making positive changes that improve a service, or the experience for patients or colleagues.

Sustainability Advocate

This award recognises an individual or team that has significantly contributed towards improving sustainability within our Group. This improvement could have had a positive environmental impact, brought about quality improvement or contributed towards financial sustainability.

Leader of the Year

This award recognises exceptional leaders who make a difference to patient care, who demonstrate valuing their peers while actively mentoring and encouraging people they work with. It also celebrates compassionate leadership, an ability to inspire and motivate others, a commitment to equality and inclusion and professional development. Any colleague, regardless of management responsibility, level or professional group, can be nominated.

Group Team of the Year

This award celebrates an outstanding team that truly reflects the power of working together as one Group to deliver exceptional care and support. It recognises teams who demonstrate collaboration, inclusivity and a shared commitment to excellence, going above and beyond to improve services and make a meaningful difference for patients, colleagues and our communities. The will show what can be achieved when we come together with a common purpose.

Community Awards

Health Equality Hero

Everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. This award recognises an individual or team that has helped to tackle and reduce health inequalities and has had a positive impact on the health of a particular group within our community.

Volunteer of the Year

This award recognises the contribution of an individual or team who give their time to contribute to our Group as a volunteer and has shown commitment to patients and colleagues.

Partner of the Year

This award celebrates an organisation that has worked with the Group to make a positive contribution. This could include supporting service delivery, improving the environment or any other contribution that supports (directly or indirectly) the delivery of high-quality care to our patients.

Special Awards

Poppy’s Promise Award

Nominations are not required for this award. The Poppy’s Promise Award for Compassionate Care honours colleagues who bring the CARE principles - Communication, Acknowledgement, Respect and Empathy - to life in the moments that matter. It celebrates individuals, clinical or non‑clinical, whose actions genuinely improve experiences for patients, families and colleagues.

Executives will nominate one person from their teams, sharing clear examples of compassionate impact and, wherever possible, feedback from patients or families. These nominations ensure the award reflects both professional excellence and real lived experience.

The winner of this special award will then be chosen from the shortlist by Group Chair Andrew Morgan, Group Chief Executive Jo Williams, and Poppy’s mum, Katie Russell.

Chief Executive’s Award

Nominations are not required for this award. The Chief Executive will select one person or team who she believes deserves special mention for their outstanding efforts during the year.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Nominations are not required for this award. This award is given to a colleague who has dedicated many years to the NHS, making a real difference in the service(s) that they have been part of and who inspires colleagues and teams around them to go the extra mile. Always putting patients, our community and colleagues at the heart of their approach, this caring and dedicated colleague will have made a significant contribution in their role(s) during their many years of service. Nominees have twenty-five or more years of service in the NHS.