The annual Nursing Times Awards celebrate excellence across the nursing and healthcare workforce, recognising those who are delivering innovative, inclusive, and patient-focused care. Winners will be announced at a national ceremony at the Hilton London Metropole on Wednesday 26 November 2025.
THRIVE – which stands for Transforming Healthcare, Reflection, Innovation, Values, Excellence – is much more than a preceptorship programme. It is a leadership and development initiative designed specifically for early-career healthcare professionals entering the NHS.
Combining practical clinical skills, leadership development, and a strong emphasis on personal growth, THRIVE provides participants with the tools, confidence, and support they need to excel – both professionally and personally. The programme is underpinned by collaboration, inclusion, and reflection, ensuring staff feel connected, valued, and supported from the start of their NHS journey.
Helen Muncey, Head of Education Faculty at The QEH, said: “Being shortlisted for this national award is an incredible achievement and reflects the commitment and creativity of our Education Faculty team.
“THRIVE is a programme built on passion and purpose – designed to support and empower our newest colleagues in the NHS. I’m so proud of what we’ve created and extremely grateful to my team, to Nicola Plaatjies and Dr Theresa Shaw, and to everyone across the Trust and NICHE who has helped bring THRIVE to life. This recognition is a powerful reminder of how vital it is to invest in and nurture early-career staff.”
Pippa Street, Chief Nurse at The QEH, added: “To be recognised by the Nursing Times is a huge honour and speaks volumes about the incredible work happening at The QEH to support our people and improve patient care.
“THRIVE exemplifies our commitment to growing and retaining a compassionate, skilled, and confident workforce – which ultimately benefits our patients, their families, and the wider community. Congratulations to Helen, Nicola, and the entire team – we’re all very proud.”
This recognition marks another significant milestone in The QEH’s mission to be the best rural District General Hospital for patient and staff experience and builds on the Trust’s track record of national award nominations for excellence in nursing and innovation.
Ends. Notes to editors; For media enquiries only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216. For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613.
About NICHE:
The Norfolk Initiative for Coastal and rural Health Equalities (NICHE), has been funded by Health Education England (East of England) to support Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System to co-create projects that will help to recruit, develop and retain the health and social care workforce and improve services to meet the needs of the local communities it serves.
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