University Hospitals Sussex has been shortlisted in four categories at the Nursing Times Workforce Awards 2025, recognising outstanding contributions to staff wellbeing, learning and recruitment.
The Nursing Times Workforce Awards celebrate and honour the contributions made by NHS colleagues in strengthening the nursing and midwifery workforce. They bring together professionals from across the country to tackle workforce challenges and honour those making a lasting impact.
Our ‘Preceptor September’ nursing workshops have been shortlisted for best workplace for learning and development. These workshops introduced a standardised approach to supporting nurses at the start of their career, recruited from overseas or returning to practice.
To foster more consistent support from preceptors to newly registered nurses, the team conducted a comprehensive review of the programme, identifying opportunities to strengthen specialist training and support available for these dedicated mentors.
These workshops equipped more than 100 preceptors with evidence-based tools for transition support, boosting confidence, clarifying roles and fostering a culture that recognises preceptors as specialists.
Katrina dela Vina, Senior Clinical Educator for Preceptorship said: “We are delighted to receive national recognition for our commitment to preceptorship and the vital role preceptors play in supporting newly registered nurses. Since launching our ‘Preceptor September’ workshops last year, they have become a core part of Trust wide practice and are now formally embedded in our preceptorship policy. We are immensely proud that this initiative directly inspired NHS South East’s ‘March for Preceptorship’ campaign.”
Our innovative approach to tackling midwifery vacancies has been shortlisted for best recruitment experience.
Previously, final year midwifery students competed for limited roles alongside external applicants, adding stress during exams and straining peer relationships.
In 2024, we introduced automatic job offers for students trained within our hospitals – recognising their degree as a three-year interview. If signed off by practice assessors, students are offered roles without further interviews.
This approach has reduced stress, improved team cohesion, supported smoother transitions into practice and significantly boosted early-career retention – contributing to a significant reduction in vacancy rates.
The team were shortlisted again in the best recruitment experience category for their innovative approach to tackling maternity support worker vacancies. By delivering a cross-hospital recruitment event, they successfully filled all open positions.
The maternity team has also been shortlisted for best use of workplace technology for their launch of a digital platform that empowers staff to share ideas, give feedback, and track improvements – enhancing wellbeing and patient care.
By implementing ‘ImproveWell,’ the team increased visibility of staff voice and enabled colleagues to shape change. Within a year, more than 80% of ideas were either actioned or in progress, leading to real improvements in morale, retention, and quality of care.
Emma Chambers, Director of Midwifery said: “This is a proud moment for our maternity teams. It reflects the passion and innovation they bring to improving staff experience and patient care every day. By listening to our colleagues and acting on their ideas, we’re building a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to make a difference.”
Winners for the Nursing Times Workforce Awards will be announced at a ceremony in London this November.