The Civil Service Awards is a highly respected and prestigious cross-government programme, recognising and celebrating the wealth of inspirational individuals and innovative projects within the Civil Service. For the last 20 years, these unique and empowering awards have helped to spread best practice right across government, sharing innovation, learning and leadership.

The Civil Service Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate excellence across the UK Civil Service, aligning with our priorities of delivering outstanding public service, driving efficiency, and building capability. Our 20th anniversary marks an update in the categories and criteria, reflecting on the government’s objectives the Civil Service shall deliver on. Each category is championed by two Senior Civil Servants, who are proud supporters of the awards and bring their expertise to the judging process. These category champions will also promote their specific category to colleagues through networks across government to encourage quality nominations from all parts of the Civil Service. Our champions also ensure their expert judging panel supports them in reviewing the thousands of nominations, and select the very best to be put forward as finalists.

The finalist announcement will take place on 22 October 2025.

And finally, the winners will be announced at the Civil Service Awards 2025 ceremony, taking place in December 2025.