apetito, the leading supplier of meals into the Healthcare sector, has revealed the full shortlist of finalists for its Estates and Facilities Heroes competition.

Aimed at recognising and celebrating the essential work carried out by those working across the Healthcare Estates and Facilities (E&F) professions, the competition allowed hospitals to nominate the individuals and teams that they feel are the unsung heroes of their E&F departments.

Winners are set to be announced on National Healthcare Estates and Facilities day on Wednesday 18th June.

Following a high number of excellent entries from across the industry, the shortlisted finalists are:

Making a Real Difference

David Shooter – Training Officer, William Harvey Hospital

Paul Jackson – Porter, James Cook University Hospital

Samantha Phillips – Chef, Leighton Hospital

Karina Evans – Senior Housekeeper, Sheffield Health and Social Care, Michael Carlisle Centre

Penny Hodgson – Training Officer, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital

Colin Poynter – Porter, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital

Leading the Way

Dave Brick – Waste Lead, Great Western Hospital

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Corporate Catering Team (Patient Catering)

Derek James – Head Chef, Yeovil District Hospital

Michelle Westhead – R&D Supervisor, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

Catering Champion

Gemma Ayling – Catering Liaison Officer, Yeovil District Hospital

Kelly Street – Senior Catering Clerk, Nottingham University Hospitals

Katie Simmons – Patient Liaison, Wrexham Maelor Hospital

Stephanie Doyle – Catering Manager, Yeovil District Hospital

Innovation Excellence

Domestic Services Team, Lancashire Teaching Hospital Preston Hospital

Thomas Lait – Deputy Head of Estates, Yeovil District Hospital

Ryan Jones – Soft Services Operations Manager, Hereford Hospital NHS Trust

Rising Star

Tammy Bingham – Stores Coordinator, Nottingham University Hospitals

Lara Beaney Wrenn – Head of Facilities, William Harvey

Martin Hall – Portering Manager, Chorley District Hospital, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Ian Powell – Fire Safety Advisor, University Hospitals of Liverpool Group

Team of the Year

Catering Central Production Team - Gosport War Memorial Hospital, Hampshire & IOW Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Community Facilities Team - Somerset NHS Foundation Trust – Community

HPV/UV Team Leaders - Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital

Patient Dining Team - Queens Romford Hospital

An independent judging panel will be selecting this year’s winners, consisting off:

Philip Shelley - Senior Operational & Policy Manager

Philip leads Soft FM operations at NHS England, driving policy and service improvements across healthcare facilities. Philip chaired the NHS Food Review, commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care after the 2019 Listeria outbreak. He continues to collaborate with the Department of Health & Social Care, having responsibility for the National Standards for Food & Drink in Healthcare.

As a former National Chair of the Hospital Catering Association, Philip fosters collaboration with the British Dietetic Association, Health Estates and Facilities Management Association, and Malnutrition Task Force.

Alison McCree - Managing Director of Synchronicity Care Limited

Alison has over 40 years' experience working in NHS estates and facilities management and became the Managing Director of Synchronicity Care Limited (SCL), in 2017. SCL is a wholly owned subsidiary of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT).

Alison's primary role is to lead SCL and its workforce to ensure the successful delivery of its purpose, which is to provide high quality, efficient and professional, estates, facilities and procurement services to support CDDFT and other NHS and non-NHS organisations. Alison has been actively involved over many years in a number of national work programmes aimed at improving estates and facilities services and is currently the Vice President of the HCA and National Secretary of HEFMA.

Amanda Roberts – Editor, HEFMA Pulse Magazine

Amanda is Editor of HEFMA Pulse magazine, a position she has held for over 10 years, and until February 2025 she was also Editor of Hospital Food + Service and Hospital Caterer. She is also a published author of three historical fiction novels.

Neil Hargreaves – General Manager of Healthcare at apetito

Neil is General Manager of the Healthcare division at apetito and leads a team committed to supporting patient recovery through mealtimes. Neil joined apetito back in 2012 with a passion to make a real difference to mealtimes and during his 13 years has worked across its Care Homes division in various roles including, Client Development Manager, Key Account Manager, leading National Account partnerships and Divisional Manager, before moving to the Healthcare division.