The ivolve Awards 2025 brought together more than just colleagues – they united a community of compassion, purpose and celebration. Held in Wales on Tuesday 8th July and England on Tuesday 15th July, these unforgettable evenings honoured those who bring our values to life every single day across ivolve.

With a record-breaking 1,635 nominations – from colleagues, families and professionals – it’s clear how deeply the actions of our teams resonate. This year, more than ever, the awards reflected the extraordinary stories being written every day in our homes, services and support functions across England and Wales.

Each evening was a joyful celebration, rich in emotion and full of heart. Guests were treated to a delicious two-course meal, followed by live music, dancing, and more than a few (dodgy but brilliant!) dance moves. There were happy tears, moments of quiet pride, and thunderous applause as story after story revealed the depth of commitment, empathy and resilience of our colleagues.

We celebrated not just success, but the small, magical moments that so often go unseen: a kind word that changed someone’s day, a brave action that safeguarded a life, or a creative idea that brought joy and belonging.

“The ivolve Awards are all about celebrating the incredible things our colleagues do for the people we support,” said Keeley Denman, Divisional Head of People for England.

“Those little moments that create real magic, providing lifelong memories – they deserve to be celebrated. These events have been a huge success and enabled us to recognise the achievements of our colleagues across ivolve.”

Grouped by category, here are this year’s incredible winners from across the ivolve family:

Culture & Values Hero

• Michelle (Wales) – A calm, supportive presence who adapts with empathy and brings people together.
• Kevin (England) – A true cheerleader, lifting others through kindness, honesty and joy.

Group Functions Hero

• Brandon (Wales & England) – Recognised in both regions for turning challenges into well-managed successes with courtesy and professionalism.

Newcomer of the Year

• Emma (Wales) – Known for kindness, creativity and supporting colleagues through tough moments.
• Alastair (England) – A fast learner and natural leader whose compassionate care has made an immediate impact.

People’s Choice

• Josephine (Wales) – Nominated by a father for going above and beyond to support his daughter with a brain injury.
• Moorgreen Team (England) – Described by a person we support as “the best place to live – I never want to leave!”

Commitment to ESG

• Heathfield Apartments (Wales) – Partnered with the council to boost recycling and reduce waste.
• Knollbeck Team (England) – A beacon of sustainability with homegrown produce, chickens, and upcycling as part of daily life.

Strive Award

• Aimie (Wales) – Her patience helped a person we support build trust, connection and social confidence.
• Amanda (England) – Relentless in securing specialist health access, she’s improved lives through persistence and partnership.

Ancillary Colleague of the Year

• Rhiannon (Wales) – A systems whizz who ensures smooth communication and colleague support.
• Rachel (England) – Managed complex regional transitions with adaptability, precision and professionalism.

Learner of the Year

• Jennifer (Wales) – A first-year nursing student who set new benchmarks in clinical excellence and compassion.
• Isabelle (England) – Completed her Level 5 leadership qualification and inspired others through poetry and growth.

Team of the Year

• Tan Yr Allt House (Wales) – Achieved top marks in quality and people, they lead the way in delivering outstanding care for the people we support.
• Knollbeck (England) – Produced high scores across quality and people, they set the standard in service excellence with a focus on the people we support.

Nurse of the Year

• Nerys (Wales) – Described as compassionate, charismatic and an uplifting presence to everyone around her.

Leader of the Year

• Vicki (Wales) – A hands-on, heartfelt leader respected by colleagues and families alike.
• Mujtaba (England) – A motivating force for his team, nominated by six colleagues for his empowering leadership.

Colleague of the Year

• Jake (Wales) – From saving a life to walking someone down the aisle, his acts of care are deeply moving.
• Omololu (England) – Delivered exceptional support during a crisis, showing deep empathy and courage.

None of these unforgettable moments would have been possible without the incredible support of our event sponsors. Their generosity helped turn our vision into a truly magical celebration – one filled with music, laughter, recognition and connection.

From the first course to the final dance move, their backing ensured our colleagues felt as valued and celebrated as they deserve to be.

A huge thank you to:

These partnerships play a vital role in helping us celebrate and invest in the colleague experience – something we are proud to be nationally recognised for. In fact, ivolve has been named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for both 2024 and 2025, and also included on the Sunday Times Best Apprenticeship Employers 2025 list.

These accolades are a testament to our people-first approach, where recognition, development, and belonging are not just values, but the way we work. And these awards are just one of the ways we show our colleagues how much we appreciate them.

Rachel Mundy, Head of People and Culture for Wales, echoed that sentiment “These awards reflect the heart of ivolve.”

“Whether it’s laughter shared at a service or a story of someone overcoming immense challenges with support from our teams, this is why we do what we do. The events allowed us to honour that spirit, that community, and the brilliant individuals who make it happen every day.”

Every colleague honoured at the ivolve Awards 2025 is a reminder of what’s possible when people come together with purpose and heart. If their stories have inspired you, we’d love for you to join us.