Some people were destined for their profession and broadcast excellence from day one. They are natural leaders whose motivation is to constantly improve the quality of their own practice and of the services they work in. Their caring natures ensure they will not only offer compassionate care themselves, but will demand it of those around them and raise concerns if it falls short.

This award is about honouring early-career professionals in health, social care, or support services who show strong leadership potential, commitment to learning, and exceptional promise for the future.

What we are looking for in this award:

We are looking to recognise excellence at an early stage – finding an individual who has already made an impact in their setting and whose destiny is to continue to do so throughout their career. Here are some of the things we want to see in an award-winning nomination:

• Early potential – Be it in professional achievements or demonstration of leadership, what impressive things has this nominee done in their early career? This might involve promotions, special projects, awards or responsibilities beyond their ususal role.
• Continuous development – This individual is always learning and seeking opportunities to develop themself – and we want to know how. Consider additional qualifications pursued, conferences attended, training courses and professional development activities undertaken.
• Contribution to care – They are always making things better for patients and service users, seeking ways to improve both services and outcomes. Tell us about a specific process they may have improved, new procedures they have introduced or how care or efficiency has measurably changed under their stewardship.
• Great feedback – positive comments, reviews and feedback from patients build the story of how this person is genuinely making a huge difference.
• Taking initiative – if there’s a problem to deal with then it’s not someone else’s responsibility, it’s an opportunity for improvement from your nominee’s perspective. Tell us about how something wasn’t working well, it’s context and the actions taken to make things better for everyone.

Who can nominate and how?

Nominations may come from line managers, mentors, colleagues, or professional peers who have directly witnessed the nominee’s early-career contributions.