{"id":389153,"date":"2026-04-14T15:42:57","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/colabstaging.co.uk\/iese2026\/?p=389153"},"modified":"2026-04-14T15:49:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:49:53","slug":"iese-awards-2026-finalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/colabstaging.co.uk\/iese2026\/iese-awards-2026-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"IESE Awards 2026 Finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We are delighted to reveal the finalists for the IESE Awards 2026, following a rigorous judging process. This year\u2019s awards attracted 218 nominations from 88 public sector organisations, surpassing last year\u2019s impressive total of 193 entries. The remarkable response highlights the sector\u2019s ongoing commitment to innovation, excellence and transformation, and sets the stage for a truly inspiring celebration of public service achievement.<\/p>\n

Digital and data transformation skyrocketed this year, with 36 nominations, comprising 16% of all submissions! Other categories that had high submission rates included innovation, efficiency and effectiveness, as well as collaboration and partnership – all with more than 25 nominations each.<\/p>\n

We are excited to include two new categories this year for the first time! The CareCubed Award recognises best practice and innovation by authorities using the national cost of care tool CareCubed, and the Lived Experience Award will recognise outstanding contributions made by individuals in adults’ and children’s social care. The finalists and winners of these new categories will be announced on the night.<\/p>\n

We were also elated to receive 20 international nominations, highlighting the global reach of our awards programme alongside the breadth and quality of transformation and improvements across the world.<\/p>\n

We look forward to bringing our exceptional finalists together on Wednesday, 4th March for an unforgettable evening of recognition and celebration. On the night, we will unveil the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in each category, honouring those who have set the bar for excellence. The excitement will reach its peak as we also crown our council, police service, fire and rescue service, and international public bodies of the year \u2013 the most coveted honours of the event.<\/p>\n

While we keep our highly anticipated ‘of the year’ winners under wraps until the big reveal at the awards ceremony, join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of this year’s finalists. The excitement is building – watch this space!<\/p>\n

Finalists 2026<\/h2>\n

AI in Public Services<\/h3>\n

FINALIST: Beam and Kent County Council<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Derby City Council<\/p>\n

FINALIST: North Somerset Council<\/p>\n

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Best Transformation Team<\/h3>\n

FINALIST: Derby City Council<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Hippo Digital and the Department for Education<\/p>\n

FINALIST: London Borough of Hackney<\/p>\n

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Best Use of Digital, Technology & Data Insight<\/h3>\n

FINALIST: NHS Property Services<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Runnymede Borough Council<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Surrey County Council<\/p>\n

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Collaboration & Partnership Award<\/h3>\n

FINALIST: Essex County Council<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council & Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Public Sector Partnership Services (PSPS)<\/p>\n

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Community & Customer Focus<\/h3>\n

FINALIST: Carmarthenshire County Council<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Islington Parental Support Team<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service<\/p>\n

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Efficiency & Effectiveness<\/h3>\n

FINALIST: Birmingham City Council<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Watford Borough Council<\/p>\n

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Green Public Service<\/h3>\n

FINALIST: East Ayrshire Council<\/p>\n

FINALIST: London Borough of Hackney<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Watford Borough Council<\/p>\n

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Innovation<\/h3>\n

FINALIST: Chesire West Heritage Protection Group<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Humberside Police<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Plymouth City Council<\/p>\n

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Transformation in Health & Social Care<\/h3>\n

FINALIST: Gravesham Borough Council<\/p>\n

FINALIST: NHS Humber Health Partnership<\/p>\n

FINALIST: Norfolk County Council Adult Social Services<\/p>\n

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The Evolution of the IESE Awards<\/h2>\n

At the heart of the awards is our commitment to uncovering and sharing powerful stories of innovation that have made a real, positive difference to residents and businesses. Our judging is guided by the IESE Transformation Model, which draws on our ongoing research into not only how local public services have transformed, but how they are planning to transform in the years ahead. This insight directly informs the work we do with councils, police services, and fire and rescue services across the UK.<\/p>\n

Since 2019, IESE have received 1,593 nominations from 288 public sector organisations, comprising: 160 local authorities, 33 Police Services, 16 Fire and Rescue Services, and many other organisations working in and amongst the public sector.<\/p>\n

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Nominations by location for the IESE Awards 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The nominations we received for 2026 make up 13.7% of this, more than an eighth of all nominations received in the last 8 Awards! Every award-winning submission exemplifies the very best of the IESE Transformation Model and, in doing so, helps us to continually refine and strengthen it. A defining characteristic of these submissions is their ambition: many go well beyond statutory duties to deliver better outcomes for communities. Crucially, they do this in ways that benefit the wider public sector – reshaping and rewiring how services work for the good of all.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur strength lies in this diversity of ideas, approaches, and experiences. We would like to thank everyone who made a submission for the IESE Awards 2026, not only for the impactful projects you have delivered for residents and local businesses, but also for the time, care, and commitment you invested in sharing your work with us,\u201d said Annabelle Atkin, Chief Executive of IESE.<\/p>\n

Today, IESE is proud to be part of a global conversation about what great transformation looks like. So, wherever you are in the world, we invite you to be part of it. We hope to see you tune into our live-streamed awards ceremony on Wednesday, 4th March, on our website here: www.iese.org.uk\/public-sector-transformation-awards-2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n

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