Can I apply retrospectively for an award?

Regardless of the time that has passed since you have hit a long service milestone, if you feel you are eligible for an award, we would like to invite you to apply.

The number of years’ service will be calculated on the basis of the total number of years employed in the NHS; two years of which must have been continuous service within UHB, or its predecessor organisations.

We apologise for requesting you to apply personally, rather than us approaching you, however due to the size of the organisation, there is no single information source that would provide us with accurate information about your service.

What will my award be?

The new scheme is Trust-wide and replaces all previous long-service schemes in place at UHB. It recognises 5, 15, 25 and 40 years of aggregated NHS service. Colleagues can apply for an employee service award providing they have two years continuous service within UHB at the point of submission. Please see details of the awards below:

What happens once I have submitted my application form?

Once the completed form has been received and authorised by HR, you will be advised of your entitlement to the Employee Service Award and the steps that will follow. Service is verified using the Trust’s payroll and pension system. If service dates do not match Trust records, it is likely that further evidence will be requested and it is the staff member’s responsibility to provide this upon request (please see guidance for examples of acceptable documentation). Any other documentation submitted which is not specified in the Employee Service Award guidance will be subject to an assessment of validity. 

All colleagues who apply for their Employee Service Award before 31 December, and have their applications approved, will be invited to our annual ceremony in the spring of the following year. Here you will receive your certificate from our Chief Executive and have the chance to celebrate with other long-serving colleagues. Ceremonies will take place at each of our hospital sites. We will be in touch with you when the booking for these ceremonies opens in November.  

Colleagues who are collecting 25- and 40-years’ service will also be invited to one of two site-based celebrations throughout the year. We will be in touch with you separately about these events. 

Please note, any applications received after 31 December will be included in the following year’s cohort, with ceremonies taking place in the year after that. 

Will I be invited to an awards ceremony?

All colleagues receiving Employee Service Awards will be invited to an annual ceremony, where they will be presented with their recognition certificate by the Chief Executive. 

If you are unable to make the ceremony, you may still request a recognition certificate. Colleagues who have requested a certificate will be able to collect their certificate after all four award ceremonies have been held. You will be contacted by the team via email when your certificate is ready to collect. 

Colleagues who submit their applications by 31 December will be invited to the annual ceremonies held in spring the following year.  

When will I get my certificate?

Those who attend one of the four ceremonies held across our hospital sites will receive their certificate at the ceremony. 

Colleagues who have requested a certificate but were unable to attend a ceremony will be able to collect their certificate after all four award ceremonies have been held. You will be contacted by the team via email when your certificate is ready to collect. 

I received a long service award at my previous Trust, can I receive an award for the same years’ service under this scheme?

Please note that anyone who has received a service award previously under the old UHB award scheme, its predecessor, or from another NHS employer, will not be eligible for a further award for the same years’ service, or lesser, under this new scheme.

For example: If you have applied and received a 25-year service award under the previous UHB scheme, you will not be eligible to apply for a 5- or 15-year award under the new scheme.