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We launched our new vision for A Modern Civil Service that is more Skilled, Innovative and Ambitious in June last year. This year’s Civil Service Awards categories embody our new vision and each award falls under the following headings:

Skilled: Investing in skills, championing expertise and strengthening leadership. Reflecting the country we serve and creating opportunities around the UK. Outstanding use of smarter working to make teams effective.
Innovative: Finding new ways to solve problems to deliver for the public. Showing commitment to new ideas and experimentation, accepting that some ideas won't work.
Ambitious: Achieving excellence in project and public service delivery. Making it easy to collaborate and provide a seamless experience for the public.

Core criteria

These criteria are applied to every award category, in addition to the category specific criteria listed below:

Civil Service Values: Has the nominee or project promoted or demonstrated the civil service values and behaviours set out in the Civil Service Code: honesty, integrity, impartiality and objectivity?
Above and beyond: Has the nominee(s)’s achievement gone above and beyond their normal job role?
Measurable benefits: Is the project or programme achieving tangible results?
Impact: Has the nominee(s) made an impact beyond their immediate team, business area or department?

Excellence in Delivery Award

A Skilled Civil Service

Recognising those who have used their skills and expertise in a range of fields to deliver exceptional outcomes for citizens and made a tangible positive difference to people’s lives. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Showcase exceptional skill or expertise in one or more fields that delivered real citizen impact;
Be outward-focused;
Include metrics or other evidence that demonstrates the impact achieved.

Developing and Supporting People Award

A Skilled Civil Service

Recognising excellence across learning, skills development, strengthening capability, and talent management, or demonstrating a highly effective contribution to promoting or improving health and wellbeing within the Civil Service. Team or individual award. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Demonstrate the positive impact the nominee has had on those around them for their contribution in people development or health and wellbeing;
Set a gold standard for people development or health wellbeing in the Civil Service;
Demonstrate innovative approaches to promoting or measuring positive mental or physical wellbeing.

Diversity & Inclusion Award

A Skilled Civil Service

Recognising those who work to embed diversity and inclusion, driving positive change for our colleagues and making the Civil Service a model, open and transparent employer to better serve the public. Team or individual award. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Demonstrate how the nominee drives inclusion in the Civil Service;
Include specific examples of how the nominee has worked to identify and remove barriers;
Show how the nominee goes the extra mile to ensure inclusivity in their everyday work.

Best Use of Data and Technology Award

An Innovative Civil Service

Recognising excellence in the application of data or digital technology to solve problems or improve things; celebrating people whose commitment to technological improvements creates measurable outcomes. Team award. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Explain how the application of data or technology directly helped achieve positive results;
Demonstrate new, creative approaches to the use of data and technology;
Showcase consistent commitment to the use of data and technology.

Science and Innovation Award

An Innovative Civil Service

Championing and using the best scientific insights available (including from academia and outside institutions) to support innovative policy design and delivery (as per reform declaration). Team award. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Reference specific examples of how science has supported innovation;
Demonstrate use of a range of sources to influence decision making;
Demonstrate how the application of science and innovation has impacted on policy and translated into real world benefits.

Evaluation and Analysis Award

An Innovative Civil Service

Recognising development in the areas of evaluation and analysis for improved insights and to better inform our work. Team award. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Demonstrate how the nominee embraces new approaches to evaluation and analysis;
Explain how evaluation has led to clearer insights and improved working;
Show a commitment to continued progress in the evaluation space.

Project Delivery Award

An Ambitious Civil Service

Recognising skilled programme, project or portfolio management to deliver complex work to a high standard, in line with the Government Functional Project Delivery Standard. Team award. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Explain what makes the nominee’s programme, project or portfolio management exceptional;
State how the work aligns with the Government Functional Project Delivery Standard;
Demonstrate the value of excellent programme, project or portfolio management in this work.

One Civil Service Award

An Ambitious Civil Service

Recognising excellent collaboration that spans the boundaries between administrations, government departments, agencies and bodies. Team award. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Explain how the nominee has successfully implemented a collaborative approach to their work and the impact of this;
Demonstrate how the work spans internal Civil Service boundaries and what benefits were realised as a result of this;
Showcase innovative, creative approaches to working towards a shared goal.

Productive Partnerships Award

An Ambitious Civil Service

Recognising those who successfully build, maintain and make the most of strong relationships between organisations across different sectors (public, private and third). Team award. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Show how the nominee has successfully developed relationships with organisations in the public, private or third sector;
Explain the impact of the partnership on the project’s end goal;
Demonstrate the benefits of these relationships to the team’s work.

Cabinet Secretary’s Outstanding Leader Award

Recognising individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, regardless of grade or role. Individual award. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Demonstrate exceptional leadership at any level;
Demonstrate how the individual has led by example and inspired those around them;
Demonstrated how their leadership has had a direct impact on delivery for citizens.

Rising Star Award

Recognising the potential of someone in the first five years of their Civil Service career. Individual award. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Demonstrate the nominee’s potential to excel in their future career;
Take a holistic view of the nominee - their work, relationships with others, qualities that will help them flourish;
Reference specific achievements of the nominee.

Programme of the Year Award

Recognising exceptional achievement from a programme anywhere across the Civil Service. Team award. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Explain the impact of the programme on citizens, service users or audiences;
Show how the nominee has embraced innovative approaches and delivery mechanisms to achieve the best results;
Demonstrate exceptional programme management, including stakeholder management to enable successful delivery.

Prime Minister's Award for Exceptional Public Service

Recognising someone at Grade 6 or below who has performed exceptionally, going above and beyond the call of duty to make a tangible difference to our nation and the lives of its citizens. Individual Award. Nominations should:

Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
Celebrate exceptional achievement in any area;
Include specifics and a measurable impact;
Demonstrate how the nominee went the extra mile to make a difference.

Please note, nominations for the Prime Minister's Award for Exceptional Public Service will be selected by our judges, from a pool of outstanding nominations from the wider award categories.

Categories | Civil Service Awards 2021 | Prestigious cross-government programme to recognise the wealth of inspirational individuals

Categories

Core criteria

Excellence in Delivery Award

Developing and Supporting People Award

Diversity & Inclusion Award

Best Use of Data and Technology Award

Science and Innovation Award

Evaluation and Analysis Award

Project Delivery Award

One Civil Service Award

Productive Partnerships Award

Cabinet Secretary’s Outstanding Leader Award

Rising Star Award

Programme of the Year Award

Prime Minister's Award for Exceptional Public Service

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