HCA National Awards - open for entries!
It’s time to start nominating the teams and individuals who have excelled over the last year for one of HCA’s 2025 Awards. The HCA Awards are designed to recognise the hard work, excellence and achievements of HCA members across the UK. Since the Awards were launched in 2001, more than 150 members have joined the exclusive roster of Award winners, having demonstrated their dedication and ability to improve the standards of catering and customer care within their respective hospitals – and consequently further the aims of the HCA.
Being recognised for an award is a tremendous achievement. Not only is it good for staff morale, it also provides a superb opportunity for hospitals to promote the good work being undertaken by their people within the communities which they serve.
Use the links below view criteria and enter your chosen categories online or download the nomination brochure:
Caterer of the Year
Catering Team of the Year
National Leadership Excellence Award
Sustainability Award - New for 2025, this award replaces the Efficiency & Improvement Award
National - Rising star
Wilma Wilkie Outstanding Service
In addition to the above, there are also the following awards which will be presented on the night:
Special Contribution Award
This award will be chosen by the judging panel to recognise an individual who has supported the Association in many ways over a period of time.
Trade Stand Award
We recognise our events would not be achievable without the support of the trade. The Trade Stand Award will be judged by the President and Vice Presidents following a visit to each of the stands during the first day of the National Leadership & Development Forum. An additional element to 2025 is best reduction in single use items.
Chairman’s Choice Award
This award will be chosen by the National Chair to recognise a Branch, as they are the cornerstones of the Association, providing an active professional support network around the UK for healthcare catering professionals who face the same challenges the industry brings and are striving for similar targets.
The Chairman's Choice Award will go to the HCA Branch:
- Which has displayed an exceptional commitment and outstanding contribution to its Members over the preceding 12 months
- recognising how the branch engages with its members and what it does to support the training and development of them
- initiatives the branch implemented to encourage the growth of membership
- any inter-branch activities
- how has it contributed to either the HCA journal or website
AWARD CATEGORIES AND ENTRY CRITERIA
Eligibility - The nominee must be a Full Member of the Hospital Caterers Association. You have until Friday, 21st February 2025 to submit your nominations.
The winners will be announced at the Presidents Awards Dinner at the National Leadership & Development Forum 2025 at Hilton Birmingham Metropole, being held Tuesday 1 April 2025.
The Hospital Caterer of the Year Award is in recognition and celebration of the significant contribution the Hospital Catering Manager makes to the wellbeing and recovery of the patient, the patient experience and to the staff and visitors who use their services.
ENTRY CRITERIA:
Background of the nominee’s involvement with the Hospital Caterers Association.
Provide the judges with some background information on the nominee.
Brief history of their career within the NHS
Provide the judges with some background information on the nominee.
Describe how the nominee:
- Has used innovation, flair and imagination to provide the best possible catering service.
- Used their leadership skills instrumental in the delivery of the service and the impact this had on food quality for patients and/or retail.
- Key performance metrics and results that demonstrated their positive outcomes on the service
CATERING TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award will be presented to a team which consistently demonstrates good team working, to deliver an efficient and high performing catering service. They have successfully implemented change and/or improved services. This could include developing new ways of working and shared learning.
ENTRY CRITERIA:
Background on the Catering Team.
Describe how the Catering Service is provided, including type of service and number of employees.
Describe how the catering team demonstrates:
- Effective teamwork and collaboration.
- How they have worked together to support the personal and professional development of team members.
- Consistently deliver a high quality, safe and compliant catering service and how the team evidence user satisfaction.
NATIONAL LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD
This award is for a Full member who demonstrates outstanding leadership skills who inspires people to go the extra mile. Good leaders are innovative and value their peers while actively mentoring and encouraging people they work with to reach their full potential.
ENTRY CRITERIA:
Background of the nominee’s involvement with the Hospital Caterers Association.
Provide the judges with some background information on the nominee.
Brief history of their career within the NHS
Provide the judges with some background information on the nominee.
Describe how the nominee has:
- Excellent communication skills.
- Inspired and motivated others to achieve their objectives.
- Overcome any barriers to change.
- Supported personal and professional development as well as promoting equality and inclusion.
This award is for a full member who, in the course of their work has shown impressive dedication and commitment to furthering themselves and supporting the work of Hospital Catering who demonstrates Association values and shows outstanding dedication and commitment.
ENTRY CRITERIA:
Background on the Catering Team.
Describe how the Catering Service is provided, including type of service and number of employees.
Describe how the nominee has shown impressive dedication and commitment to furthering themselves.
Provide examples which demonstrate how the individual has supported the work of the Hospital Caterers Association.
ENTER ONLINE
SUSTAINABILITY AWARD - NEW FOR 2025
This award is for members who have demonstrated positive progress towards Net-Zero with excellent sustainable working practices and implemented positive change within their operation.
ENTRY CRITERIA:
Background of the nominee’s involvement with the Hospital Caterers Association.
Provide the judges with some background information on the nominee.
Brief history of their career within the NHS
Provide the judges with some background information on the nominee.
Describe how the nominee has:
- Improved the positive sustainable working practices of their department linking to their NHS Trust/Board green plan.
- Made fundamental changes and the impact on the service and environmental impact .
- The changes created efficiencies including any cost impact and how these are measured.
WILMA WILKIE OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD
Wilma Wilkie placed great emphasis on providing outstanding service to our customers and her legacy lives on in supporting the HCA Outstanding Service Award. This Award is presented to an outstanding professional who is a Full, Life, or Honorary Member of the Association. The individual must have given many years of service to healthcare catering.
ENTRY CRITERIA:
Background of the nominee’s involvement with the Hospital Caterers Association.
Brief history of their career within the NHS
The nominee must have been employed for a minimum of 25 years.
Describe the nominee’s:
- Achievements whilst employed in NHS catering.
- Demonstrated outstanding commitment to both patients and the profession over and above the normal expectations.
- Shown commitment to the principle of catering excellence to the benefits of patients, staff and visitors during their career.
You can book your place at this year's HCA Leadership & Development Forum, taking place on 1st and 2nd April 2025 here.
| Attachment | Size |
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 HCA Awards 2025 Nomination Brochure | 2.48 MB |