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

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

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

Making a Real Difference

- Tracey Anige – Catering Supervisor, St George’s Hospital

- Tony Cover – Catering & Stores Manager, Florence Nightingale Community Hospital

- Kerrey Healey – Catering Compliance Officer, Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation

- Melanie Ritchings – Hotel & Services Manager, North Somerset Community Hospital

Leading the Way

- Catering Team - Queens Hospital Burton on Trent

- Claire Gwilliam & Katie Holman – Catering Manger & Catering Compliance Officer, Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

- Samantha Yates - Waste & Compliance Manager, Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust/West Heath Hospital

- Kissy Applasawmy Patient Catering Team - Epsom & St Helier Hospital

Catering Champion

- Steven Pattison – Diet Chef, Forth Valley Royal Hospital

- Testine Augustine - Head of Catering Services, Epsom Hospital

- Rasa Zebertaviciute - Domestic/Catering Supervisor, University Hospitals Plymouth

- Sharon Gough - Catering Team Leader, Conquest Hospital

Community Impact

- Paul Cutler – Porter, James Cook University Hospital

- Larry Rosenthal – Catering Manager, Royal Free Hospital

- Lorna McCarthy – Catering Team, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

Rising Star

- Mary Ojelade - Catering Senior Supervisor, St Georges

- Joshua Astall & Morgan Hughes – Apprentice Chef, Simply Serve - Yeovil Hospital

- Thaize Polizelli De Santana – Patient Feeding Supervisor, Royal Free Hospital

Team of the Year England

- Catering Back of House Team - Florence Nightingale Community Hospital

- Community Facilities Team - Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

- The RFLPS Catering Team - Royal Free Hospital

- Portering Team – Southend University Hospital

- Senior Catering Team - Northamptonshire healthcare foundation trust

Team of the Year Wales

- Catering Department - Bro Ddyfi Hospital Machynlleth

- Catering Team - Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

- Catering Team - Ruthin Hospital

Team of the Year Scotland

- Patient Catering Team - Forth Valley Royal Hospital

- Corporate Catering Team – NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

- Patient Catering Team - Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

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

Philip Shelley - Senior Operational & Policy Manager, NHS England

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.

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.

Iain Robertson – Catering Operations Manager at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Iain has worked in hospital catering for 28 years after training as a chef. He is currently the Catering Operations Manager at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and has recently completed a term as National Chair of the Hospital Caterers Association. He was recently voted as one of the 20 most influential people on public sector catering for the second year.

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 14 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.

Winners will be announced on National Healthcare Estates and Facilities day on Wednesday 17th June.