The North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (NEAS) is celebrating a series of major national accolades recognising its outstanding work in apprenticeships, veteran support, inclusive leadership and staff wellbeing.
In the past month alone, the Trust has been ranked 28th in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025, up from 65th in 2024; won Gold for Most Outstanding Public Sector Employer at the National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Events (NAFESE) Awards; and secured three national titles at the Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) Awards 2025—for innovation, inclusion and wellbeing. In addition, two members of the service’s emergency operations centre were recognised at the Control Room Awards 2025, with one finalist and one highly commended.
Chief Executive Kev Scollay said: “To receive such national recognition across so many different areas is a powerful reflection of the values and hard work of our people.
“Whether it’s our commitment to apprenticeships, supporting veterans, improving inclusion, or prioritising staff wellbeing—NEAS continues to put people first, both in the care we provide and the culture we create.”
The Trust’s place in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers is a result of its continued investment in a wide range of development pathways, from clinical to corporate roles. Over the past year, paramedic apprentices and apprentice ambulance support practitioners played a crucial part in delivering emergency care, helping to respond to more than 24,300 life-threatening Category 1 incidents, and treating over 139,700 patients at home as part of the service’s operational crews.
At the NAFESE Awards, NEAS was recognised for its exemplary approach to supporting members of the Armed Forces community. The service currently employs more than 400 veterans and serving personnel, holds Gold status in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, and is one of just 222 NHS organisations formally recognised as ‘Veteran Aware’. Judges praised the Trust’s leadership in championing reservist-friendly policies, offering structured career pathways for service leavers, and embedding the Armed Forces Covenant—signed in 2020—across its culture and values.
Three further accolades came from the HPMA Awards, where the Trust’s people-focused work stood out nationally. NEAS won the Innovation North East and Cumbria Award for its co-produced Learning Disability and Autism training programme, developed in close collaboration with patients, carers, and advocacy groups. This work led to NEAS becoming the first ambulance service to receive diamond standard accreditation in this area.
The Achieving Impact Through Open & Inclusive Leadership Award recognised the service’s swift and compassionate response to public disorder in 2024, led by its ethnic minority staff network, Together@NEAS. The network provided proactive welfare support to affected colleagues, created safe spaces for open dialogue, prompted policy reviews, and supported Trust-wide communications aimed at improving psychological safety and inclusivity.
The Health & Wellbeing Award was presented for the Trust’s Mental Maintenance programme—an evidence-based framework focused on prevention, early intervention and resilience. The initiative has resulted in a 300% increase in mental health referrals, a reduction in sickness absence, and a noticeable shift in how staff approach and manage their wellbeing.
Recognition at the Control Room Awards saw health advisor Simon Proctor receive Highly Commended for his consistently calm and compassionate handling of 111 and 999 calls. Over the last year, NEAS health advisors answered more than 1.4 million 999 and 111 calls from across the region and treated over 37,900 patients over the phone. Dispatcher Toni Davies was named a finalist in the Dispatcher of the Year category, praised for her steady leadership, mentorship of new staff and exemplary performance under pressure.
The Control Room Awards celebrate the people working behind the scenes across emergency services—police, fire, ambulance, coastguard and more—shining a spotlight on the quick-thinking colleagues who play such a vital role in keeping people safe across our region and the country.
On being shortlisted, Toni said: “It makes me feel really proud to be nominated for this award.
“I don’t do my job for any kind of recognition, I just like to go home every day knowing that I’ve done the best job that I can, but it’s nice to know that my work is appreciated!”