National social work accolades for Huddersfield duo

Two University of Huddersfield graduates have been recognised at a prestigious social work awards ceremony.

Lisa Andrews, who graduated from the MSc Social Work in 2025, won silver in the Student Social Work category at the Social Worker of the Year awards held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester.

And Molly Butler, who graduated from MSci Social Work three years earlier, also took silver in the category for Mental Health Social Worker of the Year.

Lisa has also won the Dean’s Award for achieving the highest mark on her Social Work course, and she received the Chancellor’s Prize for outstanding achievement by a postgraduate student from University of Huddersfield Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan CBE at her graduation ceremony.

Discover more about social work courses at the University of Huddersfield

Lisa said, “Having never been very academic at school, returning to study at university, as a mature student was initially very daunting. However, through my studies and two placements on the social work course, I found my niche. 

“I was thrilled and humbled to be nominated for and receive my awards. I am very grateful to those who believed in and supported me throughout, particularly my personal tutors, my husband and my best friend who planted the seed of doing a Masters in the first place and graduated alongside me. 

“Finally, I would say to anyone considering education in later life, it is never too late to learn, so just go for it!"

Lisa’s academic tutor Dr Tom Considine added, “Lisa is a diligent, enthusiastic, compassionate student, actively committed to making a positive difference. She has a quiet charisma, meaning others are naturally drawn to her as a leader, as she makes them feel valued and heard through her innate ability to quickly build rapport and demonstrate empathy and genuine interest.

"This was reflected by Lisa's peers at the end of the course when they voted her ‘the most likely to become a Chief Social Worker’, in recognition of the guidance and advocacy she offered them during their social work studies." 

Currently working for a charity raising awareness of domestic abuse and its impacts, Lisa plans to work in adult social care and has recently applied for a role in a community mental health team.