Keele University's excellence in nursing has been recognised with shortlisting in four categories in the prestigious Student Nursing Times Awards.

The awards are the UK’s biggest student and nurse education awards and celebrate the best of the next generation of nurses and their educators, and the achievements and innovations of higher education institutions.

The awards also provide the opportunity to congratulate the lecturers, practice supervisors, universities, trusts and private organisations providing the best support for student nurses during their studies.

In a record-breaking year for entries, the University's Simulated Placement Learning Team has reached the final of the University Educator of the Year and Best Student Experience categories. Keele is also in the final for Nursing Apprenticeship Provider of the Year and Nursing Associate Training Programme Provider of the Year.

The winners will be announced at an event in London on Friday, April 26.

Professor Julie Green, Head of Keele's School of Nursing and Midwifery, said: "Being shortlisted across four categories for our simulated placement learning and apprenticeship provision recognises the truly innovative approaches of our team, our focus on student experience and our ground-breaking evidence-based approaches to teaching.

"We are proud of the range and quality of all our programme delivery and we’re delighted to be shortlisted for four awards in the same year that Keele is celebrating its 75th anniversary."

Keele's School of Nursing and Midwifery began delivering apprenticeships in 2018, and currently offers six apprenticeship programmes, with 36 employer partners across undergraduate and post-graduate studies.

Nicky Winton, the School's Director of Apprenticeships, said: "Apprenticeships bring a positive contribution to the School of Nursing and Midwifery as we continue to sustain and grow apprenticeship provision in undergradaute and post-graduate provision, whilst being responsive to workforce needs.

"Our employer partners nurture their own talent, whilst our apprentices enter employment and gain a qualification at the same time. This is a really exciting time  for the school, and the nomination as finalists for Apprenticeship Programme Provider of the year recognises the commitment and passion for apprenticeships throughout the team."

The Student Nursing Times Awards has a prestigious and rigorous judging process for each category. Each category has its own independent panel of judges, made up of education leaders and previous winners.