A huge congratulations to everyone who was nominated, our shortlisted finalists and of course, the winners.

Cost Saving Initiative (sponsored by Meiko UK)

Paper Products Implementation Team: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

A cross-functional collaboration between multiple teams has standardised all paper towel and toilet roll dispensers, and transitioned from folded to rolled hand towels across five hospital sites. Operational efficiency and productivity benefits relate to reduced refill frequency due to longer rolls and stub roll mechanisms prevent waste. 

Runners up:

Non Clinical Contracts: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

Nicola Watson: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Health and Safety Department: NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group

Digital Innovation (sponsored by Eastwood Park)

Catering Team: Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust

This team has modernised patient mealtimes, replacing paper menus with a digitally-connected, sustainably-focused, service. The introduction of an Electronic Meal Ordering (EMO) system, integrated with Foodsteps, a digital platform that provides recipe-level carbon analysis, enabled menus to be redesigned, with lower carbon, plant-based options, in a data-driven way.

Runners up:

TeleTracking System: Barnsley Facilities Services

8888: NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group

Health and Safety Department: NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group

AI Adoption Programme (Capital Projects, Estates and Facilities): Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and CompliMind

Leader of the Year (sponsored by Hill Dickinson)

Jo Fitzgerald: Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Jo has driven transformational change within the Trust’s catering services. Under her leadership, teams have achieved nationally exceptional outcomes, including Gold and Green Soil Association accreditations, NHS England Exemplar Trust status and Green Standards across six sites, all within an unprecedented timescale of eight months. 

Runners up:

Chris Flowers, Head of Estates: NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group

Sue Middleton, Domestic Services Manager: Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Mike Morgan: NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group

Dawn Pickering, Head of Domestic Services: Barnsley Facilities Services

Personal Development (sponsored  by PPL Training)

Kerrey Healey: Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Kerrey has progressed from a Band 2 Catering Assistant, through determination, learning and personal commitment, to become a Band 4 Catering Compliance Officer supporting eight hospital sites and six cafés. As well as external accolades, Kerrey gives up her own time to support other catering team staff.

Runners up: 

Willem Hendriksen: Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Reece Milton: Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Claire Powell: NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group

Caitlin Riley: Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Project of the Year (sponsored by MICAD)

Winner: Capital Projects Team: Barnsley Facilities Services

The Outpatient Development within the Alhambra Shopping Centre has been hailed as the UK’s largest relocation of hospital outpatient services outside a clinical setting and into the town centre, creating a model for how these services can be modernised at scale. This move is designed to improve access, reduce missed appointments, decongest the acute site and relieve parking pressures.

Runners up:

Estates & Facilities: Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

E&F Redevelopment and Major Capital Team: NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group

Estates Development Team: West Suffolk Foundation Trust

Capital Estates Team: Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sustainability (sponsored by WAVE)

e-Bike Pilot: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

This initiative embeds sustainable mobility, providing clinicians at Memorial Hospital in Greenwich with a fleet of e-bikes, newly-installed charging and secure parking infrastructure. It integrates digital monitoring, estates-led infrastructure delivery and comprehensive staff training. Oxleas has created a governance-approved blueprint that prioritises staff safety through fit-for-purpose equipment, fire-safe infrastructure and insurance clarity. 

Runners up:

Sustainability Team: Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust

Net Zero Northumbria: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Oxleas in Bloom: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Sustainability, Biodiversity and Green Space Team: NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group

Team of the Year (sponsored by Synbiotix)

Sustainability Team: NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group

This team have developed a multi-disciplinary approach to securing funding across a complex estate – spanning four hospital sites – pursuing external funding opportunities whilst building internal capacity to deliver projects effectively. Major service improvements have been delivered across energy reduction, decarbonisation, travel and access to green space. 

Runners up:

Health and Safety Team: Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions Ltd

Capital, Estates and Facilities (CEF) Team: Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Estates & Facilities (E&F) Technical Development Team: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Northumbria Healthcare Community Estates Team: Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management

Outstanding Contribution

Mervyn Phipps, HEFMA National Treasurer

A retired NHS senior manager, now providing Authorising Engineer services as well as working freelance as a trainer to the sector, this award recognises Mervyn’s many decades of dedication and service to NHS Estates and Facilities services. Committed to excellence, Mervyn’s work has supported the development and advancement of healthcare environments that directly enhance safety and operational effectiveness. Worthy of particular mention is Mervyn’s longstanding support for the development, recognition and importance of Authorising Engineers within the NHS, championing the critical role they play in maintaining the safety, compliance and resilience of complex healthcare engineering systems. Mervyn is also a longstanding supporter of HEFMA, holding Branch and National Officer roles.

Congratulations to all of our winners and runners-up. You will be able to read about our winners in more details in subsequent issues of HEFMA’s Pulse magazine.