Welcome to the WWL STAR Awards 2025!
Tonight, we come together to shine a spotlight on the heart of our organisation - you, our incredible colleagues. Every single day, across wards, departments, and communities, you go above and beyond to help people live well, reach their full potential, and feel truly cared for. Your dedication, compassion, and innovation are what make WWL such a special place.
This evening is all about celebrating excellence - recognising the outstanding achievements, quiet heroics, and powerful teamwork that define our Trust. Whether you're a finalist, a supporter, or simply here to cheer on your colleagues, tonight is a chance to reflect on the amazing impact we make — not just on our patients and communities, but on each other.
And there’s more!
This year, there will be two additional award categories:
- The CEO Award, personally selected by our Chief Executive Officer to honour a truly exceptional contribution.
- And brand new for 2025, the People’s Choice Award, nominated by the public, giving our community a voice in recognising the care and kindness they’ve experienced first-hand.
So, keep your eyes on the stage, two surprise winners will be invited up later tonight to receive these prestigious honours!
We hope you enjoy every moment of this celebration - the stories, the laughter, the inspiration - and leave tonight feeling proud, uplifted, and energised by the incredible work happening across WWL every single day.
Share the celebrations with colleagues!
Please post your reactions and photos throughout the evening using the hashtag: #WWLSTARAwards
We will be posting live as the night goes on.
Good luck to all our amazing finalists and let’s make it a night to remember!
6.15pm - Welcome drinks
7.00pm - Compere welcome
7.15pm - Dinner - main meal and dessert (vegetarian option for those who have requested in advance)
8.45pm - Welcome from the Chief Executive Officer
9.00pm - Awards presentation
10.00pm - Three Wishes Raffle
10.10pm - Disco
12.30am - Bar closes / carriages
If you're announced as one of tonight’s lucky winners - congratulations!
Please make your way to the stage to collect your award and have your photo taken. A member of our team will be on hand to guide you every step of the way.
If you're part of a winning team, you can decide goes up to the stage, whether it’s the whole team or just a few representatives, the choice is yours. Either way, we want to celebrate your success!
All photos taken during the evening will be shared across our Trust publications, intranet, and social media channels, so get ready to smile and shine!
As the headline sponsor, Altera Digital Health is proud to be part of this year's STAR Awards event, a special evening, recognising the innovation, dedication, and exceptional patient care that you all deliver every day.
As a team, many of us at Altera have walked in your shoes, having worked in the NHS before joining our organisation. We understand the challenges, pressures, and distress that come with working in health and care. Tonight, we come together to share inspiring stories, celebrate your achievements, and express our gratitude for your tireless efforts.
These awards are a testament to your resilience, commitment, and unwavering dedication to delivering the best possible patient care. We're honoured to be part of your journey, having partnered with WWL since 2014 to drive digital transformation with Sunrise™ Electronic Patient Record (EPR). Our partnership continues to grow stronger, and we're excited to support your ongoing digital transformation journey.
To each and every one of you, we offer our sincerest appreciation and thanks for your hard work and dedication. We look forward to continuing our partnership and celebrating many more successes together.
People at the Heart Award
- Debbie Jones and the Wigan Pride Planning Committee
- Health Outreach and Inclusion Service
- Community Adult Speech and Language Team
Sponsored by:
Listen and Involve Award
- Surgical Admissions Lounge
- Ann-Marie Banks and Kathryn Place - Macmillan Information Manager and Cancer Transformation Manager
- Colorectal and Stoma Nursing Team
Sponsored by:
Kind and Respectful Award
- Sharon Ashcroft - Admin Manager, Estates and Facilities
- Emma Wilkinson - Macmillan Cancer Support Worker, Urology
- Sannah Aleem - Audiologist, Audiology
Sponsored by:
The One Team Award (Clinical)
- Leigh Urgent Treatment Centre
- Thomas Linacre Centre Nursing Team
- Infection Prevention and Control
Sponsored by:
The One Team Award (Non-Clinical)
- Medicine Governance Team
- Procurement Team
- We LEAD Team
Sponsored by:
Innovation, Integration and Improvement Award
- Angela Reeve and Gavin Thorpe - Deputy Hotel Services Managers
- Wrightington Length of Stay
- Vicky Bateson and Steph Pownall - Leigh Surgical Leadership Team
Sponsored by:
Leader of the Year Award
- Dr Stephen Gulliford - Divisional Medical Director and Consultant
- Sarah Deakin - Deputy Director of Operations and Performance
- Lee Unsworth - Directorate Manager, Radiology, Cancer Services and Pathology
Sponsored by:
STAR of the Year Award
- Zohaib Jamal - Clinical Fellow
- Esosa Songi - Clinical Nurse Educator, Professional Education Team
- Alicia Parry - Deputy Ward Manager, Jean Heyes Reablement Unit
Sponsored by:
People’s Choice Award
-
Karen Lea - Highly Specialist Neuro Nurse, Community Neurology Team
-
Laura Jenions - Critical Care Outreach Practitioner, Critical Care Outreach Team
-
Kate Tomkinson - Secondary Breast Care Support Nurse
Sponsored by:
CEO Award
Winner to be announced at the end of the evening.
Sponsored by:
To our finalists, nominators and nominees:
We were blown away by the incredible 443 nominations received in just over two weeks! The quality and volume of entries this year were truly outstanding - a powerful reflection of the dedication, compassion, and innovation shown by colleagues across the Trust. Congratulations once again to all individuals and teams who received a well-deserved nomination.
To our judges:
Thank you for taking on the tough task of selecting our finalists. Every judge commented on how inspiring - and challenging - it was to choose from such a strong field of entries. Your time and thoughtful consideration are deeply appreciated.
To our finalists:
Thank you for being here tonight and for everything you do to make WWL a place we can all be proud of. Your commitment and excellence are what we’re here to celebrate.
To our comperes:
A massive thank you to our very talented comperes for the evening – Jules Tait our Chief People Officer and Kev Parker-Evans our Chief Nursing Officer. Thank you for keeping the event running smoothy and providing lots of laughter and cheer.
To our organisers:
Thank you to our Communications and Organisational Development Teams for your time, commitment, and meticulous planning to ensure we have a successful and enjoyable evening.
To our sponsors:
A huge thank you to our generous sponsors, whose support has helped make this evening possible. We are truly grateful for your contribution in helping us honour the outstanding work of our colleagues and services with a night to remember.
Sponsorship does not equate to endorsement of a company or its products and does not influence or jeopardise any of our purchasing decisions as an NHS organisation.
