Two midwives have won one of the UK’s top prizes at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) annual awards.

Alison Brown and Julie Walker scooped the Excellence in Recruitment and Retention prize for their work at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, to encourage young people, particularly those from a South Asian background, into midwifery and the wider NHS.

The awards judges said they were impressed with Alison’s and Julie’s innovative entry, which showed how they have narrowed the gap between the ethnic composition of midwifery staff and the community.

They developed a ten-week Preparation for Midwifery course aimed at mainly South Asian students studying GNVQs (Health and Social Care) or A levels, who might consider becoming a midwife. So far more than 60 women have completed the course.

Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “This award highlighted the important, innovative and pioneering work being done by Alison and Julie in Bradford, and I congratulate them both.” Julie Walker, head of midwifery in Bradford, said: “The success of the course has been a real team effort.

“This award is testimony to the hard work of everyone in maternity, particularly the midwives who have acted as buddies in mentoring these students.”

Alison Brown said: “This has been a fun, positive and rewarding experience for staff and students alike.”

The awards ceremony was held in London.