about the awards

Nomination process

Those eligible for the awards may self-nominate or be nominated by someone else who is familiar with their work.
Nomination forms must be completed and returned through the online application form (used for ALL awards) by no later than the deadline of midnight on Friday 31 January 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.
All shortlisted finalist entries will be allocated three complimentary ticket invitations to attend the Award Ceremony. Additional tickets may be requested subject to availability, following the announcement of the finalist shortlist in Feburary 2025.
Please note that candidates unsuccessful this year may be nominated (or self-nominate) for the awards in subsequent years. Previous unsuccessful award applicants are asked not to reapply unless substantial progress or changes have been made to a project.
All nominees may be asked to contribute to award organisers' or partners' websites and other materials in respect of their activities nominated for an Award.

Judging criteria

All Awards will recognise a strong commitment to innovation with research.

We expect to recognise NHS, local authority, academic, partner, third party or third sector staff representative at all levels of seniority.
The judging process will look at both the reach and significance of innovation, collaboration, engagement and evaluation in innovation/research activities.
Judging of categories will take place in the host organisations against the set criteria as detailed on the How to Enter Page with final sign off by the three Directors of the host organisations (ARC NWC, Innovation Agency).

In addition to this the judges will be looking for:

The benefits of the submission to an organisation, researcher/team, stakeholders or target audience which should be clear and evidence-based whenever possible.
Applications that demonstrate meaningful engagement with stakeholders throughout the research cycle.
Demonstration of a reflective approach by the researcher or team.
Real ideas based on an unconventional approach across both health and community economies
Thinking differently - fresh ideas and research or innovation which brings a truly unique perspective.

tHE AWARDS

The award categories, criteria, and details on how to apply are outlined below. Be sure to review each section carefully to ensure your nomination meets the necessary requirements.

Patient Safety and Care Improvement Award

This award recognises initiatives that have made a real difference to patient safety and care in 2024/25.

Applicants should be able to clearly demonstrate how their approach to tackle a problem or system challenge was developed and provide evidence of how the initiative has involved patients, public, colleagues or other stakeholders.

The concept could be locally created or adapted/adopted from a national initiative.

The award will be judged on the following criteria:

Clear evidence of positive benefits, together with information about any additional, unforeseen impacts or benefits
Involvement of patients and staff and other relevant stakeholders in developing and refining the innovation and/or initiative

The long-term ambition for the project and how it could be applied more widely both in your organisation and outside in other environments

Examples of success and improvements since the initiative was developed.
Has it already achieved the original aim and to what extent.

Nominate here

Innovation in Workforce Culture

Creating an environment where innovation can thrive is the key to any successful organisation. A culture where good ideas are actively encouraged across a diverse workplace community allows health and social care innovation to flourish.

A culture for innovation is where diverse voices come together and there are opportunities for ideas to be generated and progressed, acknowledging that staff understand what might help to improve their services and they are actively engaged and provided with support and time to develop and evaluate innovative ways of doing things.

The work could include the introduction of new technology; working more collaboratively; promoting flexibility or agile working; or another innovative approach to improving the wellbeing and development of staff.

This award will be presented to a team or organisation that has developed an approach to innovation through the development of a positive and effective workplace culture that has resulted in real changes that have benefitted patients as well as healthcare staff.

The award will be judged on the following criteria:

Person-centred and inclusive values drive your team or organisation’s culture of innovation and are reflected in your strategy and approach
Organisational innovation strategy and implementation plans demonstrate evidence-based innovation culture principles
People in your team or organisation are supported to take forward a good idea for innovative and collaborative ways of working
Rewards and incentives for people and teams to innovate actively and collaboratively are clear and meaningful
Demonstrated evidence of impact and benefit resulting from strategic innovation culture change

Nominate here

Industry Collaboration – Primary Care

There has never been a more crucial time to recognise the importance of effective relationships and collaborations. This award has been introduced to highlight the outstanding achievements between the NHS and industry partners and to illustrate the positive impact that this approach is having on patient and staff care and how effective collaborations are improving the overall health status of the population.

The industry collaboration should clearly support the delivery of NHS priorities and seek to transform primary care initiatives, use NHS resources more effectively and have the potential to translate and adopt innovation at pace.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate the benefits and effectiveness of the collaboration and how it is providing an innovative solution(s) to deliver better care than NHS services alone. Provide sufficient evidence that the innovation has the ability to be scaled up and is agile enough to adapt to the changing requirements of the NHS.

This category will be of particular interest to companies who are already collaborating with the NHS or companies who have a mature enough innovation who are looking to partner with the NHS.

The award will be judged on the following criteria:

The context of the collaboration and why it was initially formed.
The impact of the challenge and examples of how the partnership and innovation has evolved.
Demonstrated evidence of the impact and benefits resulting from the collaboration. How was this measured and what steps were put in place to achieve them.
Examples of how the innovation can be scaled and adopted across the NHS. Describe areas where this has already been achieved.
How well the collaboration has adopted to the complex changes of the healthcare environment.

Nominate here

Industry Collaboration – Secondary Care

The industry collaboration should clearly support the delivery of NHS priorities and seek to transform secondary care initiatives, use NHS resources more effectively and have the potential to translate and adopt innovation at pace.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate the benefits and effectiveness of the collaboration and how it is providing an innovative solution(s) to deliver better care than NHS services alone. Provide sufficient evidence that the innovation has the ability to be scaled up and is agile enough to adapt to the changing requirements of the NHS.

The context of the collaboration and why it was initially formed.
The impact of the challenge and examples of how the partnership and innovation has evolved.
Demonstrated evidence of the impact and benefits resulting from the collaboration. How was this measured and what steps were put in place to achieve them.
Examples of how the innovation can be scaled and adopted across the NHS. Describe areas where this has already been achieved.
How well the collaboration has adopted to the complex changes of the healthcare environment.

Nominate here

RESEARCH STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD

This award is aimed at an individual who has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to their research.

Things to consider if nominating a student:
How does this student stand out from their peers?
How have they gone above and beyond what is expected, and set themselves apart from the crowd while performing their research?
What evidence can you show that this student is truly excellent?
What has been their personal achievement, rather than just conducting their research? (This could include success at a national / international level, for example in presenting at conferences and raising awareness of their research and its value to a wider audience.)
Contribution to their local university or wider community
Their achievements do not need to relate to research already published.

Nominate here

THE RUTH YOUNG AWARD FOR RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION/IMPACT

This award is for examples of research initiatives or partner collaborations that have delivered evidence which has been transferred/delivered into practice and can demonstrate outputs that have enhanced or improved frontline delivery to service users in any area.

You should be able to demonstrate how the research was developed and how it tackled an identified problem or subject
Tell us about any collaboration between stakeholders during the research and how this was managed
Tell us about your approach/strategy to implementing the research findings in the provider organisation(s)
What is the potential long-term impact/legacy of the research now it has been implemented
How has the innovation been shared amongst other providers in the same sector so wider learning can take place?

Nominate here

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT AWARD

Examples include approaches to research capacity building such as Individual (e.g. training and scholarships), Intra-organisational (developing the capacity of research departments to fund, manage and sustain themselves) and Inter-organisational (changing the rules of the game nationally or regionally through collaboration)
Initiatives which have contributed towards developing a culture of capacity building for applied health research and implementation are particularly encouraged
Recognising approaches towards evaluating the process, outcomes, and impacts of capacity building activities
Particular consideration will be given to clear evidence of how capacity building has improved outcomes for both patients and the public through improving the quality, delivery and efficiency of health and care services, and / or addressing health inequalities.

Nominate here

Tackling Health Inequalities Award

We are proud to serve a diverse region and this category is sponsored by Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership; and Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. The award recognises work carried out to tackle health inequalities across the North West Coast.

We want to hear about achievements in understanding and assessing the well-being of people across the region; and innovative ways of working to address inequalities.

Nominees may have performed or are conducting validated research that raises awareness of a key issue of concern, or which contributes towards a reduction in health inequalities. Or they may have developed a novel approach, for instance involving local communities alongside public sector organisations in addressing local needs.

Your submission should be able to demonstrate some of the following:

Context for the nomination – why the project/research was initiated
Describe the project/research and steps taken
Involvement of local communities
Impact of project/research to date
Parity of esteem addressing both physical health and mental health

Nominate here

The 2025 Sustainability Award

The impact we have on the environment has never been under greater scrutiny.

This category is sponsored by Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership; and Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. The award aims to recognise an individual or team whose work has enabled improvements or efficiencies in services, departments, pathways and patient experience while boosting sustainability.

Your submission should be able to demonstrate some of the following:

How you identified the problem/system issue – describe the challenge faced
Your approach/strategy
The impact of the transformation – include evidence/testimonials from staff and/or patients or public
Lessons learned and critical success factors
How you have shared the lessons learned