Previous IESE Award Winners

IESE Awards 2026 – the results!

In 2026, we received 218 nominations from 88 public sector organisations across the UK and overseas. Please find the winners below who were crowned Gold, Silver or Bronze for each award category in our awards ceremony on Wednesday 4th March 2026.

Award Categories 2026

1. AI in Public Services Award
This award recognises the most impactful and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence in transforming local public services. Entrants will demonstrate how AI has been applied to improve decision-making, enhance service delivery, reduce costs, or predict and meet community needs — all while ensuring transparency, accountability, and public trust. Submissions can include automation, predictive analytics, natural language processing, or other AI-driven innovations that deliver measurable benefits to residents and communities.

GOLD: Derby City Council
SILVER: North Somerset Council
BRONZE: Beam and Kent County Council

2. Best Transformation Team
This category was sponsored by Ikigai.
This award captures the exceptional focus and effort from a team who has made a significant contribution and long-term positive impact within their organisation, on their residents and communities. They have improved outcomes for their organisation, customers, and wider community through innovative transformation and continuous improvement. This team has delivered the best possible services to their residents and service users by embedding strong values, culture, and behaviours. Nominations are welcome from both single organisations and cross-agency teams.

GOLD: Hippo Digital and the Department for Education
SILVER: London Borough of Hackney
BRONZE: Derby City Council

3. Best Use of Digital, Technology and Data Insight
This category is for the innovative use of digital tools, technology, and data that have led to improved outcomes for the organisation, customers, and wider community. This could range from remodelling existing services to creating new, dynamic services that have transformed the role of local public services and the way they support residents and communities. Entries must evidence a creative approach to managing and analysing data to deliver outstanding results.

GOLD: Surrey County Council
SILVER: Runnymede Borough Council
BRONZE: NHS Property Services

4. CareCubed Award
This award recognises organisations that have used CareCubed, the National Care Costing Tool, to enhance transparency, efficiency, and collaboration in care commissioning and delivery. Entries should demonstrate measurable outcomes such as improved cost accuracy, stronger provider relationships, or more sustainable care models. Projects should show how CareCubed has been embedded in teams, driven cost savings, and supported data-driven decision-making.

GOLD AWARD FOR ADULT SERVICES: Surrey County Council
GOLD AWARD FOR CHILDREN SERVICES: Lancashire County Council

5. IESE Partnership Award

GOLD AWARD: Surrey County Council

6. Collaboration & Partnership Award
This category recognises the simplification of how residents and local businesses interact with public services by bringing together multiple contact points, removing barriers between organisations, and moving resources closer to the customer. It also celebrates strategic alliances, co-production with communities, and joint working between different sectors to achieve shared goals.

GOLD: Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council & Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
SILVER: Essex County Council
BRONZE: Public Sector Partnership Services (PSPS)

7. Community and Customer Focus Award
This award is for the initiative that does most to reinvigorate the local community and deliver outstanding service to customers. Through the use of asset management, regeneration, or community development, they have created opportunities for their local area by delivering proven benefits, greater resilience, and less dependency on local public services. Entrants must clearly demonstrate the link between excellent customer service and improved service performance.

GOLD: Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service
SILVER: Carmarthenshire County Council
BRONZE: Islington Parental Support Team

8. Cyber Excellence and Resilience Award
This category rewards successful initiatives that improve the overall security of their organisation.They have demonstrated exceptional commitment to strengthening their cyber resilience by embedding a culture of cyber security throughout their operations. The award recognises those who have proactively invested in robust security measures, delivered effective staff training, and promoted cyber knowledge at every level of the organisation.

GOLD AWARD: Gravesham Borough Council

9. Efficiency and Effectiveness Award
This category recognises organisations that have unlocked the full potential of their resources to deliver elevated performance, create efficiencies, and deliver outstanding customer service with improved value to residents. Above all, this organisation has shown its ability to adapt to a fast-paced and ever-changing environment while achieving excellent results.

GOLD: Watford Borough Council
SILVER: Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service
BRONZE: Birmingham City Council

10. Green Public Service Award
This category recognises, rewards, and promotes environmental best practice across the public sector in the UK. The winning organisation will demonstrate how they have driven sustainability within their operations and local area, addressed climate adaptation and biodiversity, and improved the quality of life and well-being of their residents.

GOLD: Watford Borough Council
SILVER: East Ayrshire Council
BRONZE: London Borough of Hackney

11. Innovation Award
This category is for developing and bringing to market new innovative technologies, facilities, or services that can transform the delivery of a local public service. Entrants will be able to show the success of innovative ways of working and the improvement made to their customers and community. This category is open to public, private, and third sector organisations.

GOLD: Chesire West Heritage Protection Group
SILVER: Humberside Police
BRONZE: Plymouth City Council

12. Lived Experience Award

This brand-new category celebrates and acknowledges the importance and impact of individuals and organisations that lead with a Lived Experience / Dual Perspective. This award highlights those that use a lived and learned experience to have positive impact on Children’s or Adult’s services and/or the people they support.

GOLD AWARD FOR ADULT SERVICES: Isaac Samuels OBE
GOLD AWARD FOR CHILDREN SERVICES: The Care Leaders

13. Transformation in Health & Social Care Award
This organisation has highlighted the greatest impact for customers of health and social care through the successful launch of creative and forward-thinking services for children, young people, or adults. Submissions can be based upon transforming access to services, remodelling the service itself, or integrating different services and partners.

GOLD: Gravesham Borough Council
SILVER: Norfolk County Council Adult Social Services
BRONZE: NHS Humber Health Partnership

Of The Year Winners 2026

UK Fire & Rescue Service of the Year 2026 – County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service

UK Police Service of the Year 2026 – Police Scotland

UK Council of the Year 2026 – Lichfield District Council

International Public Body of the Year – Ministry of Health and Wellness, Jamaica

International Emergency Service of the Year – Dubai Police & Dubai Police Academy