Sharon Holmes of Dental Arts Studio, London has won this year's Practice Manager Award presented by the British Dental Practice Managers' Association and 3M ESPE.

The award is judged on several criteria in a rigorous assessment procedure which includes a two-hour practice visit by a panel of judges and interviews with nominees and members of their practice.

Nominees are also required to provide clear evidence of how the practice manager has increased the success and profitability of the practice over the past few years in key areas including environment and procedures, team training and the patient journey. Four finalists were chosen from the greatest number of nominations the award has ever received.

Chairman of the BDPMA, Bridget Crump, commented, ‘In my five years as BDPMA Chairman, I have seen a definite trend from reactive manager to proactive leader, from administrator to strategist and from “just a title” to a pivotal practice role.’

The finalists were Marie Hobden of Surrenden Dental Practice, Brighton, Ellen Pattwell of The Queen Victoria Road Orthodontic Practice, High Wycombe, Kerry Zoina of Confident Dental Practice, Surrey and the 2007 winner, Sharon Holmes. Sharon was presented with a cheque for £500 by 3M ESPE marketing manager Steve Foster.