Categories
We launched our new vision for A Modern Civil Service that is more Skilled, Innovative and Ambitious in June 2021. The 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 Star sponsored by Baringa](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Awards-Logo-543x401-Skilled-Excellence-in-Delivery-Award-.png)
![](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Baringa-RGB-POS-1024x407.jpg)
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. Team or individual award. 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 Award star](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Developing-and-Supporting-Award.png)
![](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Serco-updated-Logo-2016-300x93.jpg)
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 and Inclusion Award star sponsored by Indeed](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Awards-Logo-543x401-Skilled-Diversity-Inclusion-Award-.png)
Diversity and 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, Science, and Technology Award star](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Best-Use-of-Data-Award.png)
![](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/TCS_Logo_RGB-1024x244.png)
Best Use of Data, Science, and Technology Award
An Innovative Civil Service
Recognising excellence in the application of data, science 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, science or technology directly helped achieve positive outcomes for citizens;
- Demonstrate new, creative approaches to the use of data, science and technology;
- Reference specific examples of how data, science and technology has supported innovation.
![Creative Solutions Award star sponsored by PA](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Awards-Logo-543x401-Innovative-Creative-Solutions.png)
![](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/PA-Logo-Colour-RGB-300x265.jpg)
Creative Solutions Award
An Innovative Civil Service
Recognising innovation and creativity and how it translates into real world benefits. Team and individual award. Nominations should :
- Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
- Demonstrate how the application of innovation has impacted on policy and translated into real world benefits.
- Showcase originality and imaginative problem solving while operating within parameters of department’s policy and value for money
- Showcase innovative, creative approaches to working towards a shared goal.
![Evaluation and Analysis Award star](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evoluation-and-Analysis-Award.png)
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.
![Collaboration Award star sponsored by Baringa](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Awards-Logo-543x401-Ambitious-Collaboration-.png)
![](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Baringa-RGB-POS-1024x407.jpg)
Collaboration 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);
- Show how the nominee has successfully developed relationships spanning internal Civil Service boundaries, or with organisations in the public, private or third sector either domestic or international;
- Explain the benefits and impact of the partnership on the project’s end goal;
- Explain how the nominee has successfully implemented a collaborative approach to their work and the impact of this;
![](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Programme-of-the-Year-Award.png)
Programme of the Year Award
An Ambitious Civil Service
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.
![Delivery for Citizens Award star sponsored by Mastek](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Awards-Logo-543x401-Ambitious-Del-for-Citiz.png)
![](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Logo-Costain.jpg)
Delivering for Citizens Award
An Ambitious Civil Service
Recognising those who have public service at the centre of delivery; including efficiency and ensuring value for money, actions which result in better outcomes for citizens, and demonstrating world class service to the public. Team award. Nominations should:
- Satisfy the core criteria (see above);
- Explain the inspiration and motivation behind the nominee’s work to deliver for citizens;
- Showcase effective and targeted positive impact of public service;
- Demonstrate how the nominee’s actions have contributed to increasing the reputation of the Civil Service.
![Rising Star Award star sponsored by Newton Europe](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Awards-Logo-543x401-Modern-Rising-Start.png)
![](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Newton-Logo.png)
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.
![Cabinet Secretary's Outstanding Leader Award star](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Outstanding-Leader-Award.png)
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.
![Prime Minister's Award for Exceptional Public Service Award star](https://www.civilserviceawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Prime-Ministers-Award.png)
Prime Minister's Award for Exceptional Public Service
Recognising individuals or teams who performed exceptionally, going above and beyond the call of duty to make a tangible difference to our nation and the lives of its citizens. 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.