The work of estates and facilities management (EFM) staff at hospitals across the country was thrown into the spotlight with the announcement of the winners of the 2025 Estates and Facilities Heroes competition.

In celebration of National Healthcare Estates and Facilities Day (EFM Day), healthcare meals provider, apetito, held a ceremony recognising the essential work carried out by EFM teams.

With record entries from right across the sector, the independent panel of judges, consisting of Phil Shelley (NHS England), Alison McCree (Synchronicity Care), Amanda Roberts (HEFMA), and Neil Hargreaves (apetito), paid tribute to the winning entrants, citing their standout performance which went ‘far beyond the extra mile’.

Commenting on the winning entrants, Neil Hargreaves, general manager of healthcare at apetito, said: “This year’s competition was nothing short of inspiring.

“We were blown away by the wealth of brilliant entries and all the impactful stories shared.

“The submissions are a true testament to the dedication and important work happening across estates and facilities departments nationwide.”

The winners

 Making a Real Difference Award: Paul Jackson, porter at James Cook University Hospital (Serco)

Paul’s colleagues commend him for always going out of his way to support those around him and making a real difference to all the patients that he meets.

One remarkable occasion of Paul going above and beyond, prompting his nomination, was a routine patient transfer that suddenly changed into a life-or-death situation.

Through Paul’s quick-thinking and fast-acting initiative, he ensured the patient got the immediate and appropriate care required from the crash team and nurses and he stayed by the patient’s side through the ordeal.

The judges said that Paul is ‘a true embodiment of this award, making a significantly’positive impact in his role’.

 

Leading the Way Award: Derek James, head chef at Yeovil District Hospital

Derek puts sustainability at the heart of everything he does, embracing innovative practices and cutting-edge technologies to create an environmentally-friendly food service and inspiring colleagues along the way.

His dedication to reducing food waste was commended, with one example of this commitment being the introduction of a unique scheme to distribute coffee ground waste to staff members and visitors across the hospital to use in their gardens – a simple-yet-effective initiative that diverted over five tonnes of waste in 2024-2025.

 

Catering Champion Award: Stephanie Doyle, catering manager at Yeovil District Hospital

Stephanie is labelled the ‘driving force’ behind the department, fostering a culture of positivity and collaboration and demonstrating adaptability and determination.

Under her leadership the catering department has undergone a remarkable transformation, embracing new technology to streamline processes and enhance efficiency, setting a new standard for service excellence.

A notable achievement includes introducing a dynamic, weekly menu incorporating current food trends, providing a new approach that has revitalised the dining experience.

She also led the servery area expansion which has improved service flow and reduced wait times – key projects that have delivered significant change.

 

Rising Star Award: Ian Powell, fire safety advisor at University Hospitals of Liverpool Group

With a mission to make University Hospital of Liverpool Group an exemplar institute in fire safety, Ian has instigated change by redesigning how things are done, driving efficiency, and process.

This has included implementing fire safety apprentices into the organisation, as well as a programme of fire safety advocates – supporting and mentoring those interested in the fire safety profession and resulting in four new team members.

Through his actions, Ian has driven a culture change in fire safety and enabled the introduction of a fire safety policy, demonstrating accountability for continuous improvement.

 

Innovation Excellence Award: Thomas Lait, deputy head of estates at Yeovil District Hospital

Always thinking outside the box, Thomas continues to go beyond his job role to bring new ideas to the table and explore ways to enhance services for patients, staff, and visitors.

Notably, he has led the charge on the integration of a pioneering Sustainable Energy Controller (SEC) system at Yeovil District Hospital, an innovative heat recovery system that captures waste heat from the refrigeration process and repurposes it for potable hot water or heating – deemed a ‘world-first’ approach.

Not only does this reduce the need for fossil fuel-based heat sources and help to decarbonise the site, but reduces energy bills for the hospital as well.

 

Team of the Year Award: Community facilities team at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

The catering team within Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Community has demonstrated true teamwork and commitment to improving the patient meal experience through introducing new and improved ways of working.

Utilising its catering expertise and knowledge, the team transformed its role into a patient-facing approach which has involved reorganising working practices, developing new skills, and building confidence.

Following meals from preparation through to patient delivery has had many benefits, such as improved portion control and more-direct communication with the nursing team about individual dietary needs.

Stepping up to this challenge took strong support and training from the whole team, alongside dedicated leadership to ensure all were taken on the journey.