Northumbria University developed the Enhanced Care for Older People (EnCOP) programme in partnership with the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Ageing Well Network, to understand the workforce development needs and challenges associated with caring for older people. The first cohort of 50 health and social care professionals to undertake the new programme have now graduated and in recognition of the success of the programme to date, it was also named as a finalist in the Innovation in Clinical Education category at the Bright Ideas in Health Awards.