Nominations for the Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Awards are now closed!
Check back here later for our shortlisting announcement.
Back for their sixth year, the GM Health and Champion Awards are organised by NHS Greater Manchester, with support from the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. The awards recognise our paid and unwaged workforce in health and care services across Greater Manchester. Categories include Community Champion, Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Achievement, along with Green Initiative of the Year, a new category for 2025.
For further information you can email gm.awards@nhs.net.
Follow GMchampions25 on X (Twitter) for regular updates.
- Community Champion
This award recognises an individual or a team that leads a community-based project that is really making a difference.
- They are part of a community-based project working in Greater Manchester to improve the health and wellbeing of others.
- Their commitment to improving the lives of their community is what sets them apart.
- Collaboration Award
This award recognises where multiple teams, organisations or agencies have come together to make a powerful impact through their work.
- The collaboration is made up of people who do not normally work together.
- The team came together and used their innovation and initiative to make a difference.
- They utilised the skills of their team to deliver their outcome.
- Employer/Workplace of the Year
This award recognises a health or care employer or workplace that has gone the extra mile to improve their employment/workplace practices for the benefit of their workforce.
- They are committed to creating a culture where people feel listened to and that their wellbeing matters.
- They have implemented new employment practices in the last year which have had a positive impact on their workforce.
- Equalities Champion
This award is for an individual or team who is committed to breaking down barriers and challenging inequalities.
- They aren’t afraid to challenge inequality and their action/s have had a demonstrable impact on the experience of others.
- They are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they are represented and that they have a voice.
- They continue to champion equality, diversity, and inclusion at every opportunity.
- Green Initiative of the Year
Climate change is one of the greatest threats to health and Greater Manchester has committed to becoming greener. This new award recognises an individual or a team whose project or initiative has contributed to tackling climate change while enhancing health and care services for patients and the public.
- They have implemented an environmentally sustainable solution to a problem in their area of health and care.
- Their solution is innovative, and could be scaled up and replicated across Greater Manchester and beyond.
- Innovation Champion
This award recognises an individual or team whose ideas or innovation resulted in a positive change for others.
- They have used their initiative to provide an innovative solution to a problem or change the way they work to produce instant benefits.
- They have looked beyond organisational boundaries in delivering innovation that offers the maximum benefits.
- They are not afraid of challenging ways of working and thinking about things differently.
- Leadership Champion
This award recognises an individual who has shown strong leadership at any level – driving positive change for the benefit of others.
- They have demonstrated leadership in supporting their team or those around them.
- They inspire people to come together and work towards achieving something that makes a difference.
- They look beyond organisational boundaries and see the potential of their colleagues to support the broader system.
- Learner of the Year
This award recognises an individual that is committed to their learning and uses it to improve the way they work and support their team. *This award is only open to apprentices, students or those undertaking continued professional development, or have completed their learning in the last six months.
- They have demonstrated a commitment to their learning and are always thinking about how they can share their learning with others.
- They have used their learning to improve the care or services they provide.
- Lifetime Achievement Award
This award recognises an individual who has dedicated their working life to making a difference in our health and care system. *This award is only open to all individuals who have worked in health and care for over 20 years
- They have made significant and lasting contribution to our health and care system.
- They have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to improving the care of others.
- Rising Star
This award recognises an individual who is new to their role and has already demonstrated the potential to go far. *This award is only open to all individuals who have started their new role since January 2024.
- They are not afraid to bring positive challenge to how the team or service works, leading to genuine quality improvements.
- They are committed to continuous personal and professional development.
- They are committed to their role and to continuing to improve the health and wellbeing of others in Greater Manchester.
- People’s Champion – A partnership with Hits Radio
Chosen by the public, this award recognises an individual who has positively enhanced the lives of others. *This category is for nominations by patients and service users only.
- They put the health and wellbeing of others at the heart of everything they do.
- They are committed to treating those they care for with dignity and respect, and to providing a positive health and care experience.
- They treat everyone they care for as an individual, providing personalised care that promotes choice and independence.
- Team of the Year
This award recognises the importance of teamwork, and that the best outcomes are delivered when we work together.
- The team demonstrate excellent communication and operate with mutual respect, support and trust.
- Together the team has a track record for excelling and delivering their shared goals.
- They value every member of the team and make sure everyone is able to play their part.
- Volunteer Champion
Volunteers play an integral role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of the people of Greater Manchester, and this award recognises the contribution of individuals and teams of volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to their communities.
- They have gone over and above to make a significant difference to the lives of service users, patients, carers or staff and other volunteers.
- They demonstrate an outstanding commitment and enthusiasm to their role as a volunteer.
- Wellbeing Champion
This award is for an individual or team who has helped improve the psychological, physical and practical wellbeing of their colleagues.
- They champion good wellbeing in the workplace at every opportunity and help raise awareness with those around them.
- They have either directly or indirectly helped improve the health and wellbeing of those they work with.
Thank you for nominating your colleagues for the Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Awards 2025. By making the nomination you agree to the following terms and conditions:
- Nominations will only be accepted for health and social care staff who work in Greater Manchester, waged or unwaged and who have met the criteria within 2024-25.
- Entries for the awards will close on Tuesday 11 March 2025 at 23:59 GMT. Judging will take place in May. There will be three shortlisted nominees from each category and one award winner. The winner will be announced and informed during the event in July 2025. Winners will be presented with a trophy. There is no prize or cash alternative for the winner.
- If nominating someone for multiple awards the Champion Awards team have the final decision on which category, they should be entered into.
- Due diligence on nominees who are shortlisted will be carried out with members of their organisation or community before the final judging panel.
- The information contained in your nomination is strictly confidential and will not be shared with any person other than those involved in the administration of these awards, with the exception of the reasons for the nomination, which may be used in association with the announcement of any award.
- NHS GM has the right to disqualify any entry not made in accordance with these terms and conditions.