Prime Minister's Award for Exceptional Public Service

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Team, East of England Regions Group

Department for Education

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Team went above and beyond to open a school in record time so that children from one of the most deprived areas of the country had a good local school to go to. They put the interests of children and young people first and instead of accepting a sub-standard situation, they considered what might be possible if all local partners collaborated and worked together on a solution. The result is that 120 students at high risk of dropping out of education altogether now have an excellent local school and the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

Emmeline Carr

Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office

Emmeline is an exceptional crisis leader and planner whose work across Government and UK missions in the Middle East and Europe has delivered complex but practical contingency consular plans. Her efforts have directly assured options for future large- scale support and supported over 500 British Nationals and their families to leave Lebanon this October. Bringing all of her experience, networks, and expertise to bear, hers has been the work that has engendered most confidence by Ministers in our contingency plans for a set of very real consular risks in the Lebanon and Israel.

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Pauline MacNeil

Ministry of Justice

During the Civil Disorder period, Pauline led the Response and Command functions within Courts and Tribunals, managing data collation, briefings, and operational responses. She coordinated with Police Escort and Custody Services (PECS), planned additional court hours, and supported cross-system decision-making. Despite leading a depleted team for almost 12 months, Pauline ensured swift guidance, maintained morale, and received exceptional feedback. Her efforts resulted in minimal disruption, safe operations, and prompt sentencing, earning recognition for the court system’s effective response.