Tameside Hospital chef is Learner of the Year

An assistant chef at Tameside Hospital has scooped a prize at the 2024 Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Awards.

Despite leaving school 40 years ago with no GCSEs in maths or English, Trish Bromley won the Learner of the Year category at the ceremony, held at the Science & Industry Museum on July 11 and hosted by former Blue Peter presenter Mwaksy Mudenda. 

First held in 2018, more than 500 people were nominated for gongs across 13 different sections in a competition organised by NHS Greater Manchester. 

Trish has worked for the Tameside & Glossop NHS since 2003 and has been in her current role for two years. 

During that time, she completed a Level 2 Functional Skills qualification – equivalent to a GCSE – and passed her Production Chef Level 2 Apprenticeship with a distinction, all while working full time.  

She won the three-person shortlist, coming ahead of fellow Tameside Hospital nominee, Kriss Randles. 

An occupational therapy apprentice, Kriss was named Learner of the Year by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists in 2023. 

He was inspired to take his career path by his late brother Matthy, who lived with acrodysostosis, an extremely rare genetic condition that causes growth abnormalities and learning disabilities. 

After Matthy’s death in June last year, Kriss raised almost £2,500 for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice in a sponsored head shave. 

“It’s fantastic to see the Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Awards back again for their fifth year,” said Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. 

“The variety of individuals and teams shortlisted across Greater Manchester was outstanding – from midwives, to care workers, and charities helping the homeless and mental health services. I’m really pleased that they are getting the recognition they deserve.”