This important award recognises an individual who has made a significant improvement and continued commitment to championing diversity in the health and care workforce.

This award is for an individual that has actively sought to eliminate discrimination and championed equality across the protected characteristics. For someone who supports employees from minority ethnic backgrounds or promotes diversity in age, gender or sexual orientation, ensuring equal access to opportunities and progression.

Any nurse, working in a provider, charity, or government arm’s length bodies is eligible to apply. We welcome entries from candidates themselves or nominations from those who wish to highlight an individual who they believe merits this recognition.

What will the judges be looking for?

The judges will be looking for meaningful quantitative and qualitative evidence that highlights:  

• Innovation  – originality of the strategies used to promote diversity and inclusion
• Value  – impact of the individual’s efforts to improve diversity of the workforce
• Leadership  – evidence of entrants championing their work across their organisations and more widely

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. If you are shortlisted for this award, and with coronavirus conditions permitting, for stage two you will be invited to attend our Covid-19 secure offices to present to the judges on Friday 14 October 2022. The shortlist will be informed of any changes to the final judging process.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

Effective line management is critical to supporting individual and organisational performance, and often has the biggest impact on staff wellbeing and fostering teams that feel valued by an employer.

This award aims to recognise an exceptional team leader, working in the NHS or independent sector, who demonstrates commitment to nurturing and supporting their staff.

Managers without a clinical background, but who are leading a team that include nursing or midwifery staff, regardless of size or setting, are eligible to enter this category.

We welcome entries from candidates themselves or nominations from those who wish to highlight a line manager who they believe merits this recognition.

What will the judges be looking for?

The judges will be looking for meaningful evidence that highlights:  

• Innovation – best in class approach to team management
• Value – impact of the individual’s efforts to improve supportive staff cultures
• Leadership – evidence of entrants championing their work across their organisations and more widely

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. If you are shortlisted for this award, and with coronavirus conditions permitting, for stage two you will be invited to attend our Covid-19 secure offices to present to the judges on Friday 14 October 2022. The shortlist will be informed of any changes to the final judging process. 

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

Line managers often have the biggest impact on staff health and wellbeing and fostering teams that feel valued as part of the organisation.

This award aims to recognise an exceptional nurse and team leader, working in the NHS or independent sector, who demonstrates commitment to nurturing and supporting their staff.

Any nurse who is leading a team, regardless of size or clinical setting, is eligible to enter this category.

We welcome entries from candidates themselves or nominations from those who wish to highlight a nurse line manager who they believe merits this recognition.

What will the judges be looking for?

The judges will be looking for meaningful evidence that highlights:  

• Innovation  – best in class approach to team management
• Value – impact of the individual’s efforts to improve supportive staff cultures
• Leadership  – evidence of entrants championing their work across their organisations and more widely

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. If you are shortlisted for this award, and with coronavirus conditions permitting, for stage two you will be invited to attend our Covid-19 secure offices to present to the judges on Thursday 13 October 2022 . The shortlist will be informed of any changes to the final judging process.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

As well as improving knowledge and skills, it can help to create a more positive working culture and boost employee morale.

This award aims to recognise employers that prioritise learning and development opportunities, using the resources available to them to offer a wide-ranging portfolio of CPD options to nursing and midwifery staff.

Entries will be judged on originality and resourcefulness, considering the size of the organisation and its budgets.

What are the judges looking for?

The judges will be looking for meaningful quantitative and qualitative evidence that highlights:

• Innovation  – originality of the learning and development initiatives offered to nursing staff
• Value  – impact of the resources on the nursing and midwifery workforce and evidence that demonstrates that staff engage with and benefit from what is offered, where available
• Leadership  – evidence of entrants championing their innovation across their organisation and more widely
• Adaptability  – initiatives that can be easily adopted by other organisations

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

Practice educators are vital for developing and standardising clinical practice across departments, and supporting and training nursing staff in the introduction of new equipment, skills and medicines.

They both work with newly registered staff to support them during the transition from being student and also with more experienced nurses when they begin to take charge of their clinical areas.

This new award aims to recognise an exemplary practice educator who goes out of their way to provide clinical training, support and development for nursing staff.

What will the judges be looking for?

The judges will be looking for meaningful evidence that highlights:  

• Innovation – best in class approach to clinical practice education
• Value – impact of the individual’s efforts to improve training and clinical standards
• Leadership – evidence of entrants championing their work across their organisations and more widely

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

Supporting this transition requires the foundation provided by a preceptorship programme, with preceptors to oversee development and give personalised support in clinical and practical areas.

Supporting and nurturing new nurses and midwives during their vital first year in this way means they can flourish and make the vital contribution for which they trained.

A good preceptor can make the difference between an NRN remaining with an employer or deciding to take their skills elsewhere and, in some cases, leave nursing altogether.

This new award will recognise an exemplary preceptor who goes out of their way to provide support, development, coaching and mentorship of new staff.

What are the judges looking for?

The judges will be looking for originality and innovation from preceptors, supported by meaningful qualitative as well as quantitative evidence, where possible, that demonstrates the following:

• Innovation  – originality in support, development and coaching activities for preceptees
• Value  – impact of the individual’s efforts to support preceptees, improving the development of skills among NRN staff and improving retention rates
• Leadership  – evidence of entrants championing their work across their organisation and more widely

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, preceptee feedback, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

Supporting and nurturing new nurses and midwives during their vital first year means they can flourish and make the vital contribution for which they trained.

A good preceptorship can also make the difference between an NRN remaining with an employer or deciding to take their skills elsewhere and, in some cases, leave nursing altogether.

This award aims to recognise a preceptorship programme for NRNs and midwives that demonstrates support, development, coaching and mentorship of new staff.

The pathway will support NRNs and midwives as they move through the first year of employment and beyond.

What are the judges looking for?

The judges will be looking for originality and innovation that stands out from others in the sector, supported by meaningful quantitative as well as qualitative evidence that demonstrates the following:

• Innovation  – originality in support, development and coaching activities for preceptees
• Value  – demonstrating a programme that stands out from others in the sector, improving the development of skills among NRN staff and improving retention rates. The programme should be supported with meaningful data, preceptee feedback and case studies
• Adaptability  – ideas that could be easily adopted by other organisations
• Collaboration  – evidence of the involvement of other professionals or services in the project

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, preceptee feedback, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

Corporate social responsibility programmes involve employees and their organisations acting in the best interests of the environment, their workplace, the local community and the world in general.

Examples include charity work, donations or campaigns, using locally sourced products and working closely with local communities, and efforts to improve sustainability or reduce carbon footprints.

It might also see organisations and individuals engaging in philanthropic initiatives to support people or colleagues in low- and middle-income countries.

This new category will recognise health and social care organisations with a stand-out corporate social responsibility agenda that is leading the way and has measurable benefits.

What are the judges looking for?

The judges will be looking for examples of brilliant corporate social responsibility programmes, supported by meaningful qualitative evidence that highlights:  

• Innovation – original and well implemented initiatives that benefit society or the environment
• Value – demonstration of a clear improvement for the intended recipients of the programme, backed up by the use of meaningful case studies
• Adaptability – ideas that could be easily adopted by other organisations
• Collaboration – evidence of the involvement of other professionals or services in the project

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

This significant award recognises an employer that has excelled in overall workforce planning and staffing sustainability through recognition, engagement, wellbeing, training and other initiatives.

This category seeks to recognise and reward organisations that exhibit excellent recruitment and retention practices and activities, to ensure they have a motivated and fulfilled workforce.

We welcome entries from organisations themselves or nominations from those who wish to highlight excellent places to work.

If your organisation is planning on entering a number of categories at the Nursing Times Workforce Awards, then this one is an ideal opportunity to promote your employer’s overall achievements.

Likewise, you should consider entering if your organisation has scored highly in the annual NHS Staff Survey or in other measures of employee feedback.

What will the judges be looking for?

The judges will be looking for employers that recruit well and create a workplace environment that motivates, inspires and supports their nursing and midwifery staff at all stages of their career.

Successful entries, which will include relevant quantitative and qualitative evidence and be supported by the organisation’s chief nurse or director of nursing, should highlight:

• Innovation – originality of their overall workforce initiatives
• Value  – demonstration of best-in-class approaches to the recruitment experience, staff recognition and engagement, wellbeing, support, development and training, using evidence provided by case studies and employee satisfaction surveys
• Adaptability – ideas that could be easily adopted by other organisations
• Collaboration  – evidence of the involvement of other professionals or services in the project

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. If you are shortlisted for this award, and with coronavirus conditions permitting, for stage two you will be invited to attend our Covid-19 secure offices to present to the judges on Thursday 13 October 2022. The shortlist will be informed of any changes to the final judging process.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

This award is aimed at recognising an organisation that demonstrates the meaningful use of technology to improve the working environment – to give nurses and midwives more time to care.

This category will recognise organisations that use technology to support better training, mobile working or flexible working, in order to improve the working environment and release more time for them to spend with patients and service users.

What are the judges looking for?

The judges will be looking for evidence of the smooth implementation or use of technology that supports the working environment, supported by meaningful quantitative and qualitative evidence that highlights:  

• Innovation  – Innovative and well implemented technology that supports the workforce, whether through training, mobile working and flexibility as examples
• Value  – demonstration of a clear improvement in the working environment, with the use of meaningful data and case studies
• Adaptability  – ideas that could be easily adopted by other organisations
• Collaboration  – evidence of the involvement of other professionals or services in the project

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

Workforce teams are fundamental to ensuring successful workforce planning by health and social care organisations, whether focused mainly on hospitals or in community settings.

This award aims to celebrate the HR/workforce team that has delivered significant improvements to the recruitment, retention, and training and development opportunities for all nurses, midwives and support staff.

What will the judges be looking for?

The judges will be looking for meaningful quantitative evidence that highlights:  

• Innovation – originality of workforce planning, recruitment and retention strategies
• Value – impact of the team’s initiatives on the organisations nursing and midwifery workforce evidenced by meaningful data, case studies and employee survey feedback where available
• Leadership  – evidence of entrants championing their innovation across their organisation and more widely
• Collaboration  – evidence of teamwork to deliver initiatives within their organisation
• Adaptability  – initiatives that can be easily adopted by across other organisations

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

Overseas nurses strengthen our domestic workforce and bring a wealth of experience and diversity that requires significant personal and financial investment. This award aims to recognise an organisation’s strategic approach to the improvement of overseas nurses’ and midwives’ experience of recruitment to the UK.

Judges will consider the use of innovative advertising, marketing campaigns and events to recruit overseas nurses and midwives, as well as initiatives to subsequently support and embed them into the workforce. The panel will look at the efficiency of the recruitment process, communication with candidates along the way and the assessment day/interview experience plus the onboarding/induction process.

What are the judges looking for?

The judges will be looking for innovation that stands out from others in the sector, supported by meaningful quantitative evidence that demonstrates return on investment as well as qualitative evidence that highlights:  

• Innovation  – originality of campaigns or approach to the recruitment journey
• Value  – demonstrating an improvement in the recruitment experience or vacancy rates evidenced by meaningful data and case studies
• Adaptability  – ideas that could be easily adopted by other organisations
• Collaboration  – evidence of the involvement of other professionals or services in the project

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries must include at least one UK institution.

This award aims to recognise an organisation’s strategic approach to domestic recruitment and the improvement of nurses’ and midwives’ experience of the recruitment journey.

Judges will consider the use of innovative advertising, marketing campaigns and events to recruit nurses and midwives, as well as initiatives to subsequently support and embed them into the workforce.

They will look at the efficiency of the recruitment process, communication with candidates along the way and the assessment day/interview experience plus the onboarding/induction process.

What are the judges looking for?

The judges will be looking for originality and innovation that stands out from others in the sector, supported by meaningful quantitative evidence that demonstrates the following:

• Innovation  – originality of campaigns or approach to the recruitment journey
• Value  – demonstrating an improvement in the recruitment experience or vacancy rates evidenced by meaningful data and case studies
• Adaptability  – ideas that could be easily adopted by other organisations
• Collaboration  – evidence of the involvement of other professionals or services in the project

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

This important award will recognise an individual that has made a significant contribution to their employer since moving to work in the UK.

Nominations are encouraged from individuals who have, for example, helped to improve their service, supported the integration of fellow overseas staff or contributed in other ways to support their employer.

Any overseas nurse, working in a provider, charity or government arm’s-length body is eligible to apply. We welcome entries from candidates themselves or nominations from those who wish to highlight an individual who they believe merits this recognition.

What will the judges be looking for?

The judges will be looking for meaningful quantitative and qualitative evidence that highlights:

• Innovation  – originality of the strategies used to improve services or support peers
• Value  – impact of the individual’s efforts to champion overseas nurses
• Leadership  – evidence of championing the work across an organisation and more widely

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries are open to overseas nurses working in the UK only.

Diversity and inclusion bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the nursing and midwifery workforce, ensuring health professionals and services are reflective of the local communities they serve. Plus, employers with a diverse and inclusive workforce are more likely to be successful.

This award aims to recognise an organisation that has made a significant improvement and continued commitment to the diversity of its workforce.

This category is for those that are actively trying to eliminate discrimination and to ensure equity of opportunity to those with a protected characteristic. It is for those that actively try to support employees, taking into account age, gender, sexual orientation or ethnic background, to reach their potential with equal access to opportunities and progression.

What will the judges be looking for?

The judges will be looking for meaningful quantitative and qualitative evidence that highlights:  

• Innovation  – originality of the strategies used to promote diversity and inclusion
• Value  – impact of initiatives on an organisation’s nursing and midwifery workforce evidenced by meaningful data, case studies and employee survey feedback where available
• Leadership   – evidence of entrants championing their innovation across their organisations and more widely
• Adaptability – initiatives that can be easily adopted by other organisations

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

Staff who feel recognised for their work tend to be more engaged with their employer. In turn, staff who feel engaged are often more likely to be motivated, productive and loyal.

This award is aimed at organisations that celebrate and reward excellence in nursing and midwifery care, and that have made real improvements to staff recognition and engagement activities.

We want to highlight employers that demonstrate a clear commitment to identifying dedicated and high-performing individuals in their workforce and ensuring their achievements are celebrated.

Likewise, we want to reward the positive impact of engagement initiatives on staff evaluation surveys and employee feedback, which demonstrate meaningful activities and uptake from staff.

What are the judges looking for?

The judges will be looking for originality and innovation that stands out from others in the sector, supported by meaningful quantitative as well as qualitative evidence that demonstrates the following:

• Innovation  – originality of the initiatives to recognise and engage staff
• Value  – impact on nursing and midwifery workforce, demonstrating a clear improvement in morale and retention evidenced by meaningful data, case studies and survey feedback
• Leadership  – evidence of entrants championing their innovation across their organisation and more widely
• Adaptability  – initiatives that can be easily adopted by other organisations

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.

Staff wellbeing has long been further down the priority list than it should be but has, arguably, never been more important.

This award is aimed at an employer that has demonstrated a continued commitment to the mental and physical wellbeing of its staff, and that really stands out from the crowd with its offer.

This category is especially relevant at present considering the ongoing impact on nursing staff of the Covid-19 pandemic and its longer term affects, plus related workforce pressures.

What will the judges be looking for?

The judges will be looking for meaningful quantitative and qualitative evidence that highlights:  

• Innovation  – originality of the plans and initiatives
• Value  – impact of the initiatives on staff evaluation surveys, supported with case studies and employee feedback that demonstrate meaningful activities and uptake from staff
• Leadership  – evidence of entrants championing their innovation across their organisation and more widely
• Adaptability  – initiatives that can be easily adopted by other organisations

Please attach any supporting evidence to your application that you feel is relevant. This can include testimonials, evaluations or any other appropriate evidence.

Stage one of the judging process involves shortlisting entries based solely on the information provided here. Stage two will involve a roundtable discussion between judges to decide a winner, so please make sure this entry includes as much evidence as possible.

Entries are open to UK submissions only.