There is really only one thing to talk about today and that is our annual colleague recognition ceremony the Star Awards, which were held on Wednesday night.
Of course, in these days of streaming services and everything being ‘on demand’ I’m mindful that most people now consume content as and when and where they wish, so if you didn’t catch it live – or haven’t watched it back since – you can still do so here.
It is just over an hour long but crams an incredible amount of joy into every minute, with heartfelt nominations, stories of colleagues going much further than the proverbial extra mile and touching reactions from our finalists and winners, often incredulous that their hard work and dedication has been singled out for praise.
During the event itself I reflected how most colleagues continue to generally brush off compliments or positive feedback modestly by saying ‘Oh, I was just doing my job.’
But what we saw and heard in the ceremony and throughout the judging panels considering over 500 entries was so much more than that.
The winners were people living our Trust values and relentlessly committed to providing ‘safe, personal and effective’ care, but what struck me was the underlying theme of kindness, compassion and how often it is the simple things that make such a huge difference to people’s lives.
If you are feeling taken for granted or undervalued then the Star Awards provides a tonic and some solid assurance that what you do matters to people, it really does. Let me give you a flavour here and further recognise our winners for 2025:
Leader of the Year – the fantastic Andrew Keavey from DERI received multiple nominations from colleagues who said that they could not ask for a better manager. It was fantastic to see Andrew sat with his team on Wednesday night and their joy in his triumph was uplifting.
Colleague of the Year – the brilliant Elena Mortimer walked away with the annual title from a shortlist made up of all of our Colleague of the Month award winners over the past year. Elena was at home with her family when the result was announced, and it was great to hear and see just how proud she was.
Community, Engagement and Partnership Award – a fiercely contested award reflecting our commitment to working with others to achieve better health outcomes, but the Frequent Attender Project team focused on reducing repeat visits to A&E walked away with the top prize. Again, it was lovely to see them waiting for the result as a team – complete with a balloon arch, which I thought was a lovely touch.
Unsung Hero Award – always one of my favourite categories for its ability to shine a spotlight on the pure diversity of colleagues we have and how their contributions go way beyond their job description or role. The finalists were all amazing, but Abraar Mahomed stood out for his personal touch which colleagues said left a ‘profound and lasting impression on others’. Abraar couldn’t be there on Wednesday because he was working – which I thought just about said it all.
Jasper’s Colleague Kindness Award – another award which is always emotional for the nominations made in memory of our beloved therapy dog. This year was no different and seeing and hearing the response from the winner James Smith was moving. He was able to sit with his wife and colleagues to hear what people said and felt about it him and was visibly touched. It is these moments of disbelief and palpable pride that make the ceremony for me.
The Chair’s Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award – A ‘biggy’ so far as awards at work go and we have had some previous winners which I felt would be difficult to top, but listening to Dr Duncan Gavan’s team talk about his impact on them and his dedication to patients was incredible. He was surprised before the ceremony with the award as he’s on holiday at the moment and I thought the video captured it all perfectly.
Patient Facing Team of the Year – for a health care organisation this is an important award and there were some fabulous nominations, with the finalists the real cream of the crop. I loved the moment the winners – our nutritional nursing team – realised they had won. A cork was popped on a bottle of fizz live and the bubbles were the perfect partner to three very wide and proud smiles.
Efficiency Champion Award – a new one, recognising the current climate in the Trust and wider NHS to be more sustainable, reducing costs without compromising high quality care. I wondered how it would go so far as topics were concerned, but the nominations were just brilliant and the winner Alexis Cregg delivered the brief in every possible way. I loved that she was flanked on either side by her best pals as support – it was lovely to see their reaction when her reason for winning was revealed.
Non-Patient Facing Team of the Year Award – an important category for all colleagues who can feel hidden in the background compared to some of our patient-facing ‘front of house’ teams and we had a lot of fantastic nominations. The Research Capacity Building team in DERI won for the way they have transformed the Trust’s research culture and it was lovely to see them celebrate their success with colleagues in person and on the screen.
Better Workplace Champion Award - This category recognises someone that actively supports wellbeing or inclusion, ensuring colleagues are treated equally and feel valued. In our current climate it is key to our success and I was pleased we had again had lots of nominations. The winner was Rachel Thorpe whose reaction following the announcement was emotional, but her pride in being recognised was clear.
Rising Star Award – from over 50 colleagues who are the ‘one’s to watch’ we whittled it down to three fabulous finalists and Amy Rogers, a deeply respected and hugely competent member of our District Nursing team scooped the prize. Amy was with a group of colleagues watching in Burnley General and it was lovely to see her pushed forward to the front of the screen to hear her name called out.
People’s Health Hero Award – the last of the night is always a little bit different in that we ask patients and their families to nominate someone for their role in the care they received. It’s usually emotional because it speaks to the human impact we have on the lives of people in our community – and this year was no different. The winner Dr Thanos Konstantinidis is a respected and well-loved member of the medical team here at the Trust but his joy in hearing the nomination was clear and he said how touched he was that a patient had taken the time to put him forward for an award.
I wanted to name all of our winners again in the blog to make sure they receive as much recognition as possible for the amazing things that they are doing and contributing each and every day. It’s important that we celebrate the many, many positive things about this organisation which continue to make me so proud, even during challenging times.
Over recent years we have held the ceremony virtually rather than as a physical event, which began due to Covid restrictions in 2021 but, in truth, now remains for a few reasons.
Of course, one is financial and we’re fortunate the Star Awards are fully sponsored thanks to Equans, Consort and Burnley General Hospital Phase 5 SPC Limited. Without this support we would not have been able to hold them at all and so I am grateful to them for this.
The second is that having it in a broadcast format like any of the awards shows we see on TV means many more people – both colleagues and those external to the Trust – can tune in and enjoy it, live or later if they wish. Finalists can invite or be with whomever they want on the night and we see team based watch parties – including one big group of finalists who were clearly enjoying the night in the pub – as well as those who are with their friends and families, including excited and proud children, at home.
And lastly, when we talk about culture, respect and making sure everyone feels that they belong we have to then live that authentically in everything we do. This means accepting that whilst some people enjoy a traditional party-style ceremony with black ties and posh frocks and lots of fizz, others don’t and that can be for myriad reasons ranging from not drinking alcohol to struggling to pay for the meal, to get there or to be dressed up for the night.
Our aim is to create a TV quality broadcast that befits the people we are celebrating and, in truth, also spreads the joy further than those shortlisted for awards.
I know on Wednesday we were beset by technical gremlins at times which meant we couldn’t hear from our finalists as much as we would want to or make them as central to the event as we planned. I am sorry to those who wanted to speak but couldn’t or who did but couldn’t be fully heard. My heart also went out to the Non-Patient Team of the Year finalists who were lost just as they were due to appear – and despite Neil’s valiant ad-libbing we couldn’t get them back in time.
But the truth is that this doesn’t detract from the brilliance of those nominated, those shortlisted as finalists or those eventual winners in each category. Over the coming weeks myself and everyone who presented awards on the night will be personally delivering trophies and certificates and saying hello, thank you and a huge congratulations to our ‘class of 2025’ and ensuring they continue to feel special and a huge part of everything that is good about ELHT.
I hope you will join us in recognising them as you see them around the Trust and, please, congratulate them on their success too. It will mean a lot even if they immediately shrug it off.
I would encourage colleagues to also to take this moment to reflect on your own contribution to what is a great organisation delivering health care and treatment to people that changes lives.
It’s a great place to work and that’s down to you.
Martin