The Tomorrow’s Podiatry Awards celebrate the students, societies, educators and podiatrists who shape the student experience. There are six categories, and every one is judged against our values.
Our values: STRIDE
Everything Tomorrow’s Podiatry does is built on six behaviours we want to see across the next generation of podiatrists. We teach them in our Skills to Step Forward workshops, and our judges look for them in every nomination.
S
Support
Help others to grow and achieve more
T
Team up
Work across years, groups and organisations
R
Reflect
Learn from what you do, and question it
I
Inspire
Motivate others through your example
D
Drive impact
Promote podiatry and make a difference
E
Empathise
Communicate with compassion and respect
Who can nominate
Anyone can nominate for the four student categories, including students, staff, podiatrists and nominees themselves. Only current students can nominate for Educator of the Year and Inspirational Podiatrist of the Year.
Writing a strong nomination
Nominations are capped at 500 words. Each category lists its STRIDE criteria and one or two category essentials. You don’t need to cover everything. The strongest nominations give specific examples against at least three STRIDE behaviours, and say what difference the nominee made. Our nomination builder can help.
How judging works
Every nomination is first checked against the criteria for its category. The top five in each category are then scored by our judging panel against the STRIDE criteria and category essentials. Any judge with a link to a nominee declares it and does not score that nomination.
Every nominee receives a certificate. Where the nominator agrees, the nominee also receives the words written about them, and the comments may be quoted publicly, without the nominator’s name, on social media and at the awards.
Nominations open
Nominations for the 2027 awards are open now. Nominations close at 5pm (UK time) on Sunday 29 November 2026. Winners will be announced live in Liverpool on Monday 1 March 2027, the evening before the Foot and Ankle Show, and everyone shortlisted will receive tickets to attend.
The categories
Tap a category to see what the judges look for. The orange letters show the STRIDE values that matter most for that award. Judges still score all six, so examples against the others will count too.
- S
- T
- R
- I
- D
- E
Key values Support · Reflect · Empathise
Student of the Year (pre-registration)
This award recognises an outstanding pre-registration student and celebrates the breadth of learning needed to qualify as a podiatrist.
What the judges look for
- Support: helping classmates learn and succeed, for example through peer study, supporting junior years or sharing resources.
- Team up: working well as part of a team and understanding podiatry’s role in the wider multidisciplinary team.
- Reflect: reflecting on their practice, with the confidence to question how it’s applied, even when that challenges themselves or others.
- Inspire: setting an example on placement, in class or in student life that others want to follow.
- Drive impact: making a difference beyond their own studies, such as promoting podiatry, volunteering or helping improve their course.
- Empathise: communicating with patients, families and carers with compassion and empathy.
Category essentials: clinical knowledge and competence; understanding of evidence-based practice, treatment choices and care pathways; academic achievement.
- S
- T
- R
- I
- D
- E
Key values Team up · Drive impact
Research Student of the Year
This award recognises an outstanding student at the start of a research career, currently studying for a master’s or PhD in an area relevant to podiatry, and the role research plays in moving the profession forward.
What the judges look for
- Support: sharing their knowledge and skills, for example by supporting undergraduate projects, teaching or mentoring.
- Team up: collaborating with other researchers, clinicians, professions or patient groups.
- Reflect: reflecting on their research and how it relates to clinical practice.
- Inspire: showing leadership that encourages others into research, and a trajectory towards becoming a future health research leader.
- Drive impact: work with clear benefits to podiatry and potential reach into other professions, backed by a track record of sharing it through presentations, publications or public engagement.
- Empathise: keeping patients and participants at the centre of their research, and explaining it clearly to non-specialists.
Category essentials: an excellent body of work at master’s or PhD level; a continuing commitment to research in podiatry.
- S
- T
- R
- I
- D
- E
Key values Support · Inspire · Drive impact
Student Leadership Award
This award recognises a student, or a student-led campaign, project or initiative, that has inspired peers and shown leadership on placement, at university or in the wider community. It can recognise an individual or a group.
What the judges look for
- Support: advising, guiding and enabling fellow students, especially junior peers, to achieve more.
- Team up: collaborating with other students, groups or organisations.
- Reflect: learning from what worked and what didn’t, and adapting their approach.
- Inspire: working in an innovative way that inspires and motivates peers and the people they work with.
- Drive impact: a measurable difference to a group of people, the student experience or the profile of podiatry, at university, in the community or further afield.
- Empathise: leading with integrity and a real understanding of the needs of the people they lead or serve.
Category essential: a clearly described campaign, project or initiative, with the nominee’s own role in it.
- S
- T
- R
- I
- D
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Key values Team up · Empathise
Society of the Year
This award recognises the student-run society that has done most to improve the academic or social experience of its members across the whole academic year.
What the judges look for
- Support: helping members with their studies through guest lectures, tutoring or mentoring, and empowering them to achieve more.
- Team up: collaborating with other student groups, and keeping good links with their department, school or university.
- Reflect: listening to members’ feedback and improving what the society offers.
- Inspire: getting members involved, including new faces, and developing the next committee.
- Drive impact: promoting podiatry and making a positive difference in the university or local community, for example through fundraising or outreach.
- Empathise: creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable and settled on their course, and looking out for wellbeing.
Category essential: a varied programme of activity across the whole academic year.
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- T
- R
- I
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Key values Support · Inspire · Empathise
Educator of the Year (nominated by students)
This award recognises excellent teaching wherever it happens, in an academic or clinical setting. Great teachers inspire, enthuse and motivate students in their quest for knowledge and understanding.
What the judges look for
- Support: coaching, mentoring and emotional support that help students achieve their potential.
- Team up: working with colleagues, placement providers or students themselves to improve learning.
- Reflect: seeking and acting on student feedback, and reflecting on their own teaching.
- Inspire: bringing to life the role of the podiatrist and building students’ pride in their chosen profession.
- Drive impact: continuing innovation that improves students’ learning experience.
- Empathise: explaining tricky topics clearly and making every student feel included and engaged.
Category essential: teaching clinical and academic subjects with flair and passion for their specialism.
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- R
- I
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Key values Support · Inspire
Inspirational Podiatrist of the Year (nominated by students)
This award recognises that future podiatrists aren’t only inspired in lectures. It’s the podiatrists they meet along the way, whether clinicians, educators or speakers, who shape their interests, passions and future.
What the judges look for
- Support: coaching, mentoring, sponsorship or emotional support for students.
- Team up: opening doors for students by connecting them with colleagues, services, networks or opportunities.
- Reflect: role-modelling reflective practice, including openly sharing what they’ve learned from mistakes.
- Inspire: a contagious passion for podiatry that has led students to study it, specialise or aim higher.
- Drive impact: promoting podiatry and its impact in the university, their local service, the community or further afield.
- Empathise: making students feel welcome and valued, on placement or wherever they meet.
Category essential: going above and beyond their role to shape the next generation of podiatrists.