WATCH LIVE: Graduation event 2025
18.13
And that's a wrap for our live blog today, thank you to everyone who followed today's graduation.
Check back in with us tomorrow for our news story rounding up the events from the day.
18.07
While the graduates go outside for their group photo, it's time to give a shout out to the DJ because Mambo No. 5 wasn’t the only banger he’s played today.
Uptown Girl, YMCA and Shake It Off all played in quick succession while the graduates received their certificates.
Rumour has it he played a song from High School Musical earlier ...
18.02
There's one final speech from Janine but her five-metre journey up to the stage takes a couple of minutes as she dances with our graduates to Mambo No. 5 by Lou Bega. I don't think that was planned.
It's definitely worth rewinding the livestream to watch it back!
Slightly breathless from a very high energy performance, Janine says a big thank you to our staff, guests and everyone who's watched along today.
17.49
Our graduates have all received their certificates and Kenye has introduced this evening's keynote speaker Wayne Clarke, Founding Partner of the Global Growth Institute.
One of Wayne's best bits of advice is to network and meet loads of people:
It's like a game of probability in maths. Through developing deeper, richer connections better things will happen as a result.
17.34
Healthcare Assistant Ross works in Phlebotomy and helps to care for patients with blood clots.
Ross said:
We have a lot of stroke patients and we get them seen quickly.
My job has built my confidence going onto the wards.
Ian Norris added:
I'm very proud of Ross. He was shy when we first met him but he's blossomed from there.
17.31
One of our staff graduating today is Healthcare Assistant Ross Denyer.
Ross was a familiar face in our hospitals long before he started working for us - he was a volunteer wayfinder at Queen's Hospital.
Ross is pictured below with his mother, Alison, and his church warden Ian Norris.
Ian is a stroke nurse who has worked at our Trust for 49 years.
17.23
Janine finishes her speech and our graduates are now lining up to receive their certificates.
This evening, they're being presented by our Chief Nurse Nic Kane.
17.19
Janine pays tribute to our graduates' family and friends for supporting our staff during their studies.
I know how much it takes to say 'I'm going to go and write this essay' while trying to juggle your job, your family, friendships.
17.10
Professor Kenye Karemo again gets us underway. After introducing some of our special guests, she hands over to our Chief People Officer Janine La Rosa who will give the opening address.
16.59
Our guests for the final session of the day are in their seats and we'll be getting underway soon.
The live blog team has had a bit of a switch around. I was one of the graduates earlier this afternoon, a colleague watching the livestream sent me a message when they saw me yawning during a speech. Hopefully our evening graduates are more awake than I was.
You can watch the livestream at the top of this page by the way.
15.47
Graduates threw their caps up in the air in celebration! Congratulations and a huge well done to them for their success.
We're taking a short break and we'll be back at 17.00 for the evening session!
15.34
Harry Hathorn, one of our Healthcare Assistants, joined us in 2023 on an apprenticeship and started in the neurosurgery team at Queen’s Hospital.
He would assist patients before the surgery and during recovery. Since finishing his apprenticeship he has joined CEPOD (Emergency, Planned and Day Case Operating Department) at Queen's.
Harry said: "The apprenticeship has opened my eyes to different things. One of the biggest challenges was learning all the different guidelines to support patients.
“Through my apprenticeship I've improved my clinical skills. I'd highly recommend the apprenticeship to anyone who wanted to do it.”
15.05
Professor Kenye Karemo closes the second session of our graduation.
Kenye said:
Remember that you too can be an inspirer of others, you can motivate others.
14.37
Lesley Seary CBE has been welcomed up on stage.
Lesley said
Whatever you do, you have to do it your way and you have to be you.
The pride I get is seeing people progress and filling their potential.
14.09
Chief Executive Matthew Trainer is up on stage.
Matthew said:
The thing for you to takeaway is that learning is for life, and you don't always realise when the thing you've done is important to you. For all the skills you've developed they will be important in the future.
14.02
Professor Kenye Karemo opens the second session of our graduation welcoming our guests and staff.
13.55
Our afternoon session is about to kick off celebrating more of our colleagues and their achievements.
Lots of family, friends and staff have gathered to support them.
13.17
Sarah Namatovu, a Senior Sister in our Medical Assessment Unit at King George Hospital, graduated in our ceremony earlier this morning.
Sarah has worked at our Trust for 23 years. She completed a mentoring and coaching qualification so she can help develop nurses and other staff members.
Sarah said:
My mentorship skills and my management skills have improved a lot. I want to be able to help the staff with their careers as they have so much potential and so much to offer.
11.47
And that's a wrap for our morning session! We'll take a break and we'll come back at 14.00 for our afternoon session.
11.36
Angelina Markou, pictured below, is one of our former Project SEARCH interns. This is a transition into work programme for young adults aged 17-19 with a learning disability and/or autism.
Angelina joined us after completing the programme and began working in the Outpatients Department at Queen's Hospital last July.
Angelina said:
The graduation has been good so far. Since I started my job I've enjoyed working as a team.
It's good that people like me who have additional needs, you have people who work with my situation.
She was cheered on at the graduation by one of our Project SEARCH co-ordinators.
You can read more about Angelina's journey here.
11.09
Graduates have gathered outside to take a photo together in their robes.
And of course, they have thrown their mortar boards up into the air! A huge congratulations!
10.34
Winnie George, National Programme Retention Lead for NHS England, is up on stage.
She says:
This organisation doesn't just talk the talk, it walks the walk, congratulations to all of you.
During my visit a few months ago I have seen compassion, strength and a drive to make a difference.
The pandemic has showed us our greatest asset is you, the workforce.
10.32
Graduates are being called up to the front to get their certificates, with big applause from the audience.
10.15
Sarah Betteley, the Chair of our Trust, says she has had a warm welcome since she joined in February.
She says to the graduates:
It feels like as I go around and I talk to people, there's a real sense of looking to the future.
The commitment you've all shown in applying yourselves is a strong indication we have lots of people interested in their development.
It gives me confidence we can pursue our ambitions that is required for the NHS 10 year plan.
10.10
Professor Kenye Karemo has started the ceremony.
She says that our Chair, Sarah Betteley is speaking next.
10.00
We’re now kicking off our morning session to celebrate our colleagues and their achievements!
Friends and family and lots of staff are here to support them.
09:30
Welcome to our live blog
Good morning and welcome to our live blog of today’s graduation ceremony at BHRUT.
We wi ll be sharing highlights from the ceremony, stories from our graduates, and behind-the-scenes moments.
There are three sessions today at 10.00 - 12.00 , 14.00 - 15.30 and our final one at 17.00 - 18.30 .
Stay tuned for more updates here .