The resourcing team at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) has been shortlisted for a Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) Excellence in People Awards 2025 under the People Team of the Year category.
The HPMA Awards, now in their 33rd year, celebrate exceptional achievements in people management, organisational development, and workforce transformation across the UK healthcare sector. HPMA has been at the heart of NHS workforce excellence for 50 years, since the first dedicated personnel roles were created in healthcare.
The PAHT resourcing team has been recognised for its outstanding achievements in workforce transformation over the past year, including:
- Lowering vacancy rates to under 7%, enhancing workforce stability and patient care.
- Introducing community-focused initiatives, including supported internships with Harlow College for young people with learning disabilities, and playing a key role in developing a new Health and Science Academy to strengthen the local health and social care workforce.
- Significantly reducing agency staffing, delivering financial savings.
Jamie Coates, head of people – resourcing and retention at PAHT, said: “Being shortlisted for this award is a huge honour and a testament to the dedication of our resourcing team. Over the past year, we’ve worked in collaboration with colleagues across the trust to reduce agency reliance, improve recruitment processes, and create inclusive pathways into NHS careers for our local community. This recognition reflects the positive impact we are making for our patients, our people, and our wider community.”
Giovanna Leeks, chief people officer at PAHT, said: “I am incredibly proud of our resourcing team for achieving this national recognition. Their innovative, values-driven approach has transformed how we recruit and retain our amazing people while enhancing experiences and delivering financial savings. Their work is not only supporting safer staffing and better care at PAHT but also creating long-term benefits for the health and care system in west Essex.”
The winners will be announced at the HPMA Excellence in People Awards ceremony later this year.
Pictured: PAHT resourcing team, together with Thom Lafferty, chief executive at PAHT (pictured third in from the left), and Giovanna Leeks, chief people officer (pictured on the end, right).