The presentation of awards in 12 categories, an after-dinner speech by England’s most capped female hockey player, and the chance to make new acquaintances, talk over the first day’s events, and renew contacts face-to-face, were among the highlights of last month’s Healthcare Estates 2022 IHEEM Awards Dinner in Manchester. Held on the evening of 4 October, the first day of the conference and exhibition, this year’s gala awards dinner was the biggest to date, with over 600 guests, as HEJ’s editor, Jonathan Baillie, reports.
The venue for this year’s Healthcare Estates IHEEM Awards Dinner was the magnificent Grand Ballroom at Manchester’s Kimpton Clocktower Hotel. The hotel’s imposing clocktower and striking Victorian architecture are among the notable features of the striking terracotta Grade II listed building, which dates back to 1890. Guests were able to enjoy pre-dinner drinks in the hotel’s Whitworth Rooms, and the chance to relax after a busy first day, before being seated for the dinner and the gala awards presentation
Once all were seated, Master of Ceremonies, Andy Powell – a seasoned host at Healthcare Estates Awards evenings – welcomed guests, with the words: “Most of you have been at the frontline of the pandemic, and tonight is as much a celebration of your work, as it is recognising the shortlisted companies, Trusts, and individuals, here this evening.
“As we all know, healthcare estates and facilities personnel need to be adaptable, so pandemics, new venues, and rail strikes, are meat and drink to this sector. Consequently, tonight sees the biggest attendance in the history of the awards with 630 of you here – I think that deserves a round of applause.
Chosen charity
As is customary at IHEEM Healthcare Estates dinners, before the dinner got under way, a representative from the evening’s chosen charity, Guts UK, reportedly the UK’s only charity funding research into the digestive system ‘from top to tail’, had the opportunity to tell dinner guests about some of the organisation’s work. Andy Powell welcomed the charity’s CEO, Julie Harrington, to the stage. After a brief presentation outlining the charity’s work, she showed a video explaining a little more, and closed by asking those present to donate, either via envelopes on tables, or via the JustGiving page shown on screen. In all, the evening saw £8000 raised for Guts UK, including a £3000 donation from IHEEM.
IHEEM’s new President, Alison Ryan, who had officially taken office at the Institute’s 2022 AGM earlier in the day, then said ‘grace’, and guests enjoyed a three-course dinner.
Charity prizes and star after-dinner speakers
Towards the end of the dinner, as guests enjoyed coffee, Andy Powell presided over the usual ‘Heads and tails’ game, where guests are asked to put their hands either on their head or their bottom until there is just one person ‘left standing’ as the winner.
Andy Powell then introduced the evening’s after-dinner speaker, Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE – the most capped female hockey player in her country’s history, and captain of the GB and England women’s hockey teams for 13 years. She was widely credited for helping build the strong team ethos and commitment that drove the GB team to victory at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, and made history in other ways, notably by becoming one half of the first samesex married couple to win an Olympic medal playing in the same team.
In a short but insightful speech, she spoke about some of the professional challenges and achievements in her career, emphasising the value of both individual contributions and teamwork in the high-profile international women’s hockey arena. She said the same ethos and principles translated well into the business world, and that the more diverse the qualities, skills, and attributes, of the individual members of a team, the greater its overall impact would be.
The Awards
It was then time for the presentation of the Healthcare Estates IHEEM Awards 2022; Andy Powell explained that the evening would see awards presented awards in 12 categories, with entries from leading companies and ‘inspirational individuals working in the healthcare sector’. He firstly thanked the ‘esteemed group of judges’, whose job this year entailed sifting through a record 160 entries to try to find a winner.
Apprentice of the Year
The first award to be presented was for Apprentice of the Year. Sponsored by Troup Bywaters & Anders, this is awarded to apprentices at intermediate, advanced, higher, and degree level. Megan Whitbread, an electrical engineer at TB+A, who first joined the business as an apprentice, went up to the stage, and invited all four of the shortlisted candidates to join her, ‘in recognition of their efforts and superb submissions’. These were Christopher Barnett, Jonathan Day, Tony Reed, and Harvey Smith. She then revealed that the category winner, the 2022 Apprentice of the Year, was Christopher Barnett, from The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. His entry explained: “Over the past 12 months, I have contributed to improving my hospital’s infrastructure, crucial services, and the care and experience of patients around the hospital site. I have succeeded on many external training courses, and completed my HNC in Mechanical Engineering with a Distinction Grade.” He received his award from Megan Whitbread.
Architectural Practice of the Year
Andy Powell explained that the next award to be presented would be for Architectural Practice of the Year, sponsored by Armitage Shanks. The award recognises an architectural practice that has ‘demonstrated outstanding work in the healthcare sector over the last 12 months’. Schemes submitted were asked to demonstrate a commitment to being low carbon, and to have patient wellbeing at their heart. Four practices were shortlisted: Day Architectural, Frank Whittle Partnership, ONE Creative Environments, and P+HS Architects.
Day Architectural was awarded a Highly Commended, after which Andy Powell invited Anil Madan, Non-Residential Marketing Manager at Ideal Standard International, to present the award to Derek Shepherd of P+HS Architects. The entry said: “This award is for our staff, who unrelentingly apply the same enthusiasm and commitment to every project, regardless of scale. Year on year they deliver volume and quality of healthcare improvements: projects that equally transform small aspirations and big visions into reality, making a tangible difference to patients and staff.”
Consultancy of the Year
Kate Richardson-Walsh, who had remained on stage, explained that next award – for Consultancy of the Year, sponsored by Tilbury Douglas, recognised a multidisciplinary consultancy or construction consultant (including building or quantity surveyors and project management companies) which has demonstrated outstanding work in the healthcare sector over the last 12 months. Shortlisted this year were: Community Ventures (Management), Currie & Brown UK; Curtins, Hive Projects, the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Green Plan, Turner & Townsend, and WSP UK. Andy Powell explained that Turner & Townsend had been awarded a Highly Commended, before welcoming to the stage Don Stewart, Business Development Director at Tilbury Douglas, to announce the winner – Currie & Brown UK. Several of the Currie & Brown team stepped up to the stage to receive the award from Don Stewart.
The judges commented: “A really strong entry from a list of great entries, Currie & Brown continues to deliver major healthcare developments.” The firm’s entry, meanwhile, said: “Through challenging times, Currie & Brown has continued to support healthcare clients with high-quality services. We have demonstrated innovation, originality, and quality, on delivering major redevelopment programmes, NHP, and post-pandemic programmes, while staying at the forefront of Net Zero carbon initiatives, and evidencing thought leadership in digitalisation and MMC.”
Diversity & Inclusion Award
Kate Richardson-Walsh explained that the next category was the first of the evening’s new awards for 2022 promoted by IHEEM – the Diversity & Inclusion Award, sponsored by Armitage Shanks. She said: “This award recognises the organisation, individual, or initiative, that has made a genuine difference in equality, diversity, and inclusion, within the healthcare environment.” The shortlisted teams in this category were: the CHP AccessAble Project, D&I Initiatives – Transforming Bouygues E&S and Benefitting Healthcare clients, NHS Birmingham Community Trust Land & Property Team, NHS Derbyshire Healthcare – Making room for Dignity project, and Tilbury Douglas Construction.
IHEEM President, Alison Ryan, and Sally-Ann Moss, from sponsor, Armitage Shanks, then announced the winner of the 2022 the Diversity & Inclusion Award as Bouygues Energies & Services for its initiative ‘delivering D&I Excellence to healthcare clients’. Bouygues Energies & Services said in its entry: “We value our diverse workforce. We have doubled our number of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) networks, and continue to provide an engaging and varied programme of monthly D&I webinars and events, which achieve excellent levels of participation.
This entry demonstrates how the success of these initiatives is transforming our business and benefiting our healthcare clients.” Andy Powell welcomed several representatives from Bouygues Energies & Services to receive the award from Alison Ryan and Sally-Ann Moss. The judges said of the winner: “This was a difficult category to judge, with entries from three Trusts. Ultimately the winner, Bouygues, showed a business ‘in transition’, and doubled its number of diversity and inclusion divisions.”
Estates & Facilities Champion of Champions
The next award category was another new one promoted by IHEEM, the 2022 Estates & Facilities Champion of Champions, sponsored by Catfoss – which recognises a member of an Estates & Facilities team that has ‘gone above and beyond their job specification to improve the patient environment’. The judges shortlisted four individuals – all from Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: Estates Compliance Manager, Kevin Cooper, Multi-Skilled Electrical Craftsperson, Scott Campbell, Associate Director of Estates (Capital Planning), Stephen Hinckes, and Peter Bennett, of the Estates and Facilities PPE Team
Andy Powell said: “This fiercely fought category resulted in one of the toughest tasks for the judges, with a really highquality level of entries. The judges have highly commended Peter Bennett.” He then welcomed to the stage, IHEEM’s Immediate Past-President, Paul Fenton, and Catfoss Commercial Director, Peter Brown, who announced that the winner was Stephen Hinckes, Director of Estates at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
The winner then came up to accept the award from Peter Brown. The judges said of the winning entry: “This was a really good entry from a very high-quality field. Working to reduce the risk of infection through airborne viruses, Stephen also improved the environment within the hospital inpatient wards”.
Estates and Facilities Team of the Year
The next award, for Estates and Facilities Team of the Year, was sponsored this year by Capita, and recognises a team working in the healthcare sector which can demonstrate ‘outstanding achievement, performance, and delivery, of estates and facilities services, giving examples of how practical or technical obstacles have been overcome, cost savings have been made, or innovative ways of working have been introduced’. Shortlisted this year were: Avrenim, the Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Estates and Facilities Team, Wirral University Teaching Hospital Facilities and Support Services, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, and the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) Estates and Facilities and Patient Experience Team.
Judges’ long deliberations
With the judges having ‘deliberated long and hard’ over this award, and struggled to find just one team deserving an accolade, two organisations were highly commended – the Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, and the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust.
Andy Powell then welcomed to the stage Phil Bishop, Associate Director of Property at Capita, who announced the winner as the Birmingham Community Healthcare Estates & Facilities Team. Receiving the award from him was Claire Hennessy, Director, Birmingham Community Healthcare Estates & Facilities Team. The judges said of the winning team: “The Birmingham E&F Team worked together with patient care at the core of everything they do, providing safe and secure environments for patients, colleagues, and visitors”.
The Birmingham Community Healthcare team’s entry said: “Our E&F team work together to make things happen, and always maintain patient care at the core of everything they do. They are an amazing team, with a cando attitude, big smiles, and a passion to ensure that we provide safe and secure environments for our patients, colleagues, and visitors.”
Healthcare Supplier of the Year
The Healthcare Supplier of the Year, sponsored by HEJ, recognises the individual, team, or company, that has been supplying the NHS, or a private healthcare facility, successfully and reliably over the past 12 months. Seven organisations were shortlisted: Air Sentry, Arco Healthcare, BAM Construction, BeaconMedaes Germfree Mobile cleanrooms, North Devon District Hospital, and Ocura Healthcare Furniture. Highly Commended in this ‘highly competitive category’ were BeaconMedaes and Arco Healthcare. Andy Powell then welcomed Victoria Emerton, Healthcare Estates Conference Director at Step Exhibitions, to the stage. She announced the winner – Ocura Healthcare Furniture, and presented the award to several delighted members of the company’s team
Ocura Healthcare Furniture’s entry said: “Our purpose is to listen, understand, and collaborate with caring staff to transform healthcare environments, so they can improve the outcome for patients, and make a difference to their lives and those of their families.”
New Build Project of the Year
Next to be presented was the New Build Project of the Year, sponsored by Healthcare Estates, which recognises the project team that has successfully delivered a new-build project in the past 12 months. The criteria for this category, sponsored by Engie, stipulate that the project should be an exemplar in sustainability, technology, design, and patient wellbeing. The shortlisted companies were: Airedale All Electric ICU and Inpatient Building, the Bevan Intermediate Care Unit, the New Heatherwood Hospital, Northampton General Hospital Intensive Treatment Facility, the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, the Red Kite View CAMHS Unit in Leeds, and the Ulster Hospital Acute Services Block. Andy Powell said that ‘with such high-profile schemes, this category was particularly difficult to judge and choose a winner from’.
He said: “To tell us who has won, please welcome to the stage from Healthcare Estates, Jay Stacy.” Jay Stacy announced that the winner was the Red Kite View CAMHS Unit, designed by Gilling Dod Architects. The entry said of the new mental healthcare facility: ‘Nestled into a wooded hillside in Leeds, Red Kite View is an innovative mental health unit co-produced with and for the young people of West Yorkshire. Its form mimics a meandering stream running through a forest. It has two wards, a Section-136 suite, and a school.’ Collecting the award from Jay Stacy were several members of the Red Kite View project team. The judges commented: “Good to see such a well-designed mental health unit with strong user support.”
Product Innovation of the Year
The evening’s next award – for Product Innovation of the Year – sponsored by Bouygues Energies & Services, recognises the best new product brought to the healthcare market within the previous 12 months. The category saw a record level of entries – with over 20. Shortlisted were Air Sentry, the Angel Guard Remote Water Monitoring Box, SHJ Medical Gas Specialists’ Empower3, NHS Open Space, Ocura Healthcare Furniture, Real-Time O2 Metering for Hospitals, and Tarkett UK. Andy Powell told guests: “With a stellar cast of products shortlisted, please welcome Amelle Mestari, Director Of Procurement & Sustainable Development from sponsor Bouygues, to tell us who has won.” Amelle Mestari announced that that the winner was Tarkett UK, and several representatives from Tarkett went up to the stage to receive the award from her. The judges said of Tarkett’s entry: “Really good on the sustainability front. This is the first bio-attributed vinyl floor, replacing traditional fossil oil with renewable biomass feedstock.”
The wining manufacturer, Tarkett, said of its entry: “We have launched the first bioattributed vinyl floor, replacing traditional fossil oil with renewable biomass feedstock – produced using mass balance principles, and certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). iQ Natural provides architects, designers, and property owners with a flooring solution that has a GHG emission reduction of 60%.”
Staff Wellbeing Initiative of the Year
Sponsored by RS Components, the next award to be presented recognises an initiative or programme introduced within a Trust to ensure the wellbeing and mental health of its team.
Shortlisted for this award, another IHEEM initiative, were: BAM Construct UK – Aintree University Hospital, Wirral University Teaching Hospital – Investing in wellbeing, and Northumbria Staff Health & Wellbeing Centre. IHEEM Chief Executive, Pete Sellars, and sponsor representative Kate Hurl, National Account Manager – NHS, of RS Components, were welcomed to the stage to announce the winner – the Northumbria Staff Health and Wellbeing Centre. Receiving the award were a number of staff from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The judges commented: “A really clear and inspiring submission – a well thoughtthrough project with 24/7 catering for staff, which is great.”
The Trust’s entry said: “With a focus on Wellbeing, Northumbria Healthcare’s vision was to create a 24/7 space available to all staff. The creation of a staff-only, nonclinical Health & Wellbeing Centre within the Emergency Hospital offers a variety of wellness spaces, round-the clock healthy food and beverage, a health club, and a gym facility.”
Sustainable Achievement Award of the Year
Against the backdrop of the NHS drive toward Net Zero carbon, the Sustainable Achievement Award of the Year, sponsored by Inenco, recognises the organisation or team that has ‘made the best use of innovative technology and sustainable practices to reduce its project’s carbon footprint in the last 12 months’. Six NHS Trusts and organisations were shortlisted: Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Capital Development, the Recirculate Project, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust’s Sustainability Project 2021/22, and Tarkett UK. Kate RichardsonWalsh said: “This is another category that had a superb level of entries, so again, being shortlisted is a superb achievement. The judges have highly commended one of the shortlisted entries – Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, for its BESS project. Inenco’s Kelly Dean then announced the winner as the Birmingham Community Healthcare Estates & Facility Team. The judges said of the team’s entry: “Good measurable deliverables set out. The COVID pandemic delayed the start of the sustainability journey, but despite this, the team have managed to achieve several key projects, making real progress towards the Trusts’ Net Zero target.”
Congratulations to all the entrants
Andy Powell told dinner guests here that it was now time to present the evening’s last award – for Refurbishment Project of the Year. Before the winner was announced, however, he told the audience: “I congratulate you all on respecting the entrants, applauding the winners, and celebrating success and achievement during a difficult few years for your sector. Well done all.”
Refurbishment Project of the Year
The 2022 Refurbishment Project of the Year award, sponsored by dormakaba, recognises the project team that has successfully delivered an outstanding refurbishment project over the last year. Andy Powell explained: “The projects were judged on factors such as efficiency, creative use of space, and attention to elements such as ventilation and energyefficient lighting, heating, and design. We have five shortlisted organisations on screen… Give them a round of applause or a cheer, as it’s the last award.” The shortlisted entrants were Bradford Teaching Hospital, Cleveland Clinic London Hospital, Critical Care Unit – Aintree University Hospital, GOSH Sight and Sound Centre, and Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care – the Women’s Health Unit
Andy Powell added: “A great list of schemes – to tell us about the judging, and who has won, please welcome to the stage Matthew George, from dormakaba. Mathew George announced that the winner of the Refurbishment Project of the Year Awards 2022 was Great Ormond Street Hospital for the Sight and Sound Centre, and presented it to several members of the team behind the facility.
A first of its kind
The judges said of the new Centre: “A first of its kind for children in the UK, the centre features soundproofed booths for hearing tests, an eye imaging suite, and a sensory garden for children to touch, smell, and hear… a great project”. The centre also incorporates a sensory garden with plants that children can see, touch, smell, and hear, and bespoke and engaging artworks especially commissioned for children with sensory loss.
This last award having been presented, Kate Richardson-Walsh told those assembled: “Congratulations to all the winners, and all those shortlisted tonight. On behalf of everyone, our thanks to the sponsors, all those who entered, and of course all of you. Ladies and Gentlemen, enjoy the bar, and goodnight.”
Andy Powell then called for all the winners to return to the stage for photographs, and dinner guests dispersed to network and make use of the bar before the evening’s celebrations closed.