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Celebrating ground-breaking achievements in the healthcare sector, the Medilink Healthcare Business Awards shine a spotlight on the innovators and organisations driving real impact. Each year, the event honours outstanding contributions that are shaping the future of healthcare.

We are delighted to be sponsoring the ‘Innovation Award’ alongside the other northern health innovation networks – Health Innovation Manchester, Health Innovation North West Coast and Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria. This award celebrates the development of innovative technology, design and processes that have produced a major improvement in business performance and impacted the market.

Entries are open from now until Friday 20 February 2026.

Dr Neville Young, Director of Enterprise and Innovation at Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, said: “We’re proud to join the health innovation networks across the North in sponsoring the ‘Innovation Award’ at the Medilink North of England Business Awards 2026. This category shines a spotlight on the companies developing innovative solutions to improve care and create new opportunities for the NHS and patients alike, create jobs and drive inclusive economic growth. Our region is shaping the future of this sector with a strong focus on innovation, NHS transformation, skills and sustainable growth.

The North is home to a proven pipeline of health innovations with the potential to boost productivity, improve outcomes and reduce health inequalities, and we look forward to celebrating those achievements.”

There are 11 categories:

• Primary/Social Care Partnership Award: for the development of a partnership in collaboration with primary / social care / local authorities that has resulted in a major impact or benefit.
• Advances in Digital Healthcare Award: demonstrates how digital technologies were employed to enhance current service delivery or create new ways of delivering healthcare.
• Partnership with the NHS (acute care): for the development of a partnership in collaboration with the NHS that has / will have major impact or benefit.
• Partnership between Business and Academia Award: demonstrating how a partnership or collaboration between an academic institution and a business has (or will have) enhanced current service delivery, or created new ways of delivering healthcare.
• Outstanding Achievement Award: for an achievement that has had a significant or vital impact on the company.
• Export Achievement Award: for maximising opportunities to exploit and develop new markets or outstanding performance in other areas of International trade.
• Start Up Award: for newly-established companies in the healthcare sector that show a promising future.
• Innovation Award: for the development of innovative technology, design and or processes that has produced a major improvement in business performance.
• Sustainability Award: for a commitment to change within an organisation that has been clearly communicated both internally and externally.
• Investment: recognises organisations that have overcome challenges and achieved success in securing and deploying new investment.
• One to Watch: recognises those companies that deserve special recognition for their contribution to the sector and achievements in the previous year.

The black-tie gala evening will then be held on Thursday 20 April  at Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield.

For more information, view all categories and download the application forms, please click here