Who is your learning hero of 2015? Nominate them for a FutureLearn Inspiration Award and you could win £1,000 to share

Update: the deadline for all nominations was 23:59 GMT on Sunday 22 November 2015, so we are no longer accepting submissions. Instead, you can meet our judging panel and find out how many nominations we received.

Nominations are now open for the inaugural FutureLearn Inspiration Awards, which aim to recognise and reward the unsung heroes who inspire us all to learn. Here, we explain how you can nominate someone you know and both win cash prizes.

This year, we’ve been inspired by the many learners we’ve spoken to through Meet the FutureLearners. Now, we want you to share your source of inspiration with us.

Who is the one person who’s encouraged you to start learning in 2015, helped you along the way and provided motivation when things got tough?

Nominate them for a FutureLearn Inspiration Award and you could win £1,000 (GBP) to share.

Nominations are now open in four categories

We’re looking for nominations in four categories:

• Inspiration at Work: tell us about the supportive colleague or manager who’s pushed you further this year, helping you develop a new skill, take on more responsibility or secure that promotion.
• Inspiration in Education: whose classes have you relished in 2015? Which teacher, tutor or lecturer has helped you grasp that tricky subject or opened your mind to a new way of thinking?
• Inspiration at Home: which friend or family member has been your rock this year, always there to tell you “You can do it!” and share the load? Is it time you rewarded them and said “Thank you”?
• Inspiration on FutureLearn: tell us about the learner or educator you’ve enjoyed meeting on FutureLearn. Whose comments have stood out for their wit or insight? Who’s changed your view of the world?

Nominations will be judged by an expert panel

Every nomination will be assessed using the same four criteria:

• Change: how the person helped you make a change in your life.
• Obstacles: how the person helped you overcome obstacles.
• Innovation: how the person used innovative methods to motivate you.
• Altruism: how the person put your needs above their own.

For each category, we’ll shortlist five nominations, before an expert judging panel chooses one winner in each. Shortlisted entries will be announced via this blog in early December and winners will be announced by the end of the year.

You and your learning hero could win £1,000 to share

If your entry wins in its category, both you and the person you nominated will receive a £50 (GBP) cash prize.

From the four category winners, our judges will then chose one overall winner. If that’s your entry, both you and the person you nominated will win an additional £500 (GBP) cash prize.

Nominate your learning hero now

Update: the deadline for all nominations was 23:59 GMT on Sunday 22 November 2015, so we are no longer accepting submissions. Instead, you can meet our judging panel and find out how many nominations we received.

You can nominate someone using the simple form below. The deadline for all nominations is 23:59 GMT on Sunday 22 November 2015. Submissions must be in English and you must know the person you’re nominating.

For full details about how the FutureLearn Inspiration Awards will work, take a look at our Terms & Conditions.