SHORTLISTED ENTRIES NOW LIVE!

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Book Awards & Conference

Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry to the PPMA Excellence in People Management Awards 2026. We’re delighted to have received more entries than last year, reflecting the outstanding work being delivered by HR, OD and people teams across the public sector.

Congratulations and best of luck to all shortlisted nominations!

Click below to explore the full shortlist

View Full Shortlist

Awards Gala Dinner & Annual Conference, 23–24 April 2026

Our Awards Gala Dinner will take place on Thursday 23rd April 2026 at The Hilton Birmingham Metropole NEC, alongside the PPMA Annual Conference. A two-day event packed with keynote presentations, fringe sessions and networking opportunities.

Whether you’re celebrating excellence at the Awards, learning from leading practitioners, or connecting with peers,  this is the one event of the year for HR and OD professionals.

Across the event you will benefit from:

✔ Keynote presentations from leading figures in HR and OD
✔ Fringe sessions on latest trends and best practice
✔ Networking with sector peers and leaders
✔ Celebration of award winners at the Gala Dinner

Find out more and book

Explore the full list of award categories and the entries shortlisted for each below:

SHORTLISTED ENTRIES

Fostering Southwest and Penna

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Salford City Council

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

SHORTLISTED ENTRIES

Connect2Hackney / London Borough of Hackney

Real World Group & The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Borough of Kingston and London Borough of Sutton

SIS, The Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) with Penna

Southwark Council

Wigan Council

SSHORTLISTED ENTRIES

Birmingham City Council

CMP Solutions on behalf of University of Manchester

Leicester City Council

London Borough of Newham

Sheffield City Council

Somerset Council

Westmorland and Furness Council HR & OD Team

Wigan Council

sSSHORTLISTED ENTRIES

Islington Council

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

London Borough of Sutton

Norfolk County Council

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

Salford City Council

SHORTLISTED ENTRIES

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority

Leicester City Council

Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)

SHORTLISTED ENTRIES

Buckinghamshire Council

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS)

London Borough of Hounslow

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Runnymede Borough Council and Real World Group

Description

This award provides an excellent opportunity for public service organisations to showcase their achievements, demonstrating how they have engaged and managed their workforces through major service transformation. It recognises organisations that have delivered unique and improved services for customers and local communities while simultaneously providing a richer work experience for employees.

Judging Criteria

For this award, organisations will need to demonstrate that they have led the field in  workforce transformation. Entries should show how they have built a productive workplace through employee engagement and mitigated the negative impacts of disengagement on organisational performance.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

  • A unique and flexible approach to workforce transformation, resulting in a transformed and productive workforce
  • Employee engagement and involvement, including employees and Trade Unions, through change and beyond
  • Joined-up ways of working across the organisation
  • Positive equality, diversity, and inclusion outcomes, with additional recognition for innovative approaches
  • Clear links to organisational objectives, including metrics demonstrating results and impact, such as increased productivity or improved customer service
  • Embedding engagement in behavioural and cultural change

View previous entries here

SHORTLISTED ENTRIES

Leicester City Council

London Borough of Harrow

Norfolk County Council

Walsall Council

Westmorland and Furness Council

Wigan Council

SHORTLISTED ENTRIES

Birmingham City Council

Oxfordshire County Council

Sheffield City Council

SHORTLISTED ENTRIES

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

London Borough of Newham Council

Norfolk County Council

Plymouth City Council

SHORTLISTED ENTRIES

Birmingham City Council

London Borough of Newham

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils and Bailey & French

Stevenage Borough Council

SHORTLISTED ENTRIES

Birmingham City Council

Buckinghamshire Council

CMP Solutions on behalf of The King’s Fund

London Borough of Hackney

London Borough of Newham

Salford City Council

Westmorland and Furness Council

Wigan Council

SHORTLISTED ENTRIES

Durham County Council, North East Ambulance Service

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

London Borough of Newham / Adecco

Sheffield City Council

Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)

West Midland Employers with Tribepad

Description

The Gold Award is the highest honour, recognising the best overall winner across all award categories. This prestigious accolade celebrates an organisation or team that has demonstrated outstanding innovation, impact, and excellence in their work. The winner of the Gold Award exemplifies the very best of public service, setting a benchmark for others to aspire to.

In addition to the Gold Award, Silver and Bronze Awards are presented to runners-up who have also demonstrated exceptional achievements in their category. These awards recognise organisations and teams that have made a significant impact, delivered innovative solutions, and contributed to positive change for employees, organisations, and the communities they serve.

These awards will be announced at the Gala Awards dinner evening celebrations. 

An Unforgettable Evening

Thursday 23rd April 2026

Our Awards Ceremony is a truly unforgettable evening filled with celebration, camaraderie and recognition.

The PPMA People Management Awards honour outstanding achievements in people management, shining a spotlight on the exceptional contributions of colleagues across the public sector.

Each year, we bring the event to life with a unique and exciting theme. Previous themes have included Gold, A Night at the Circus, Rock the Kasbah, Night at the Movies and All That Jazz.

For 2026, we are delighted to present a Black & White Black Tie Ball and it promises to be just as spectacular.

What to Expect

The evening begins with a drinks reception, offering the perfect opportunity to connect with peers and colleagues.

Guests will then enjoy a three-course dinner as the awards are presented. This year, our compère is the delightful Alistair Williams, speaker, facilitator and leadership specialist,  who will guide us through the evening’s celebrations.

We’ll round off the night on the dance floor, with entertainment, décor and a few surprises always kept up our sleeve, including interactive features such as a photo booth and themed touches throughout the venue.

What to Wear

This year’s event is a Black Tie celebration with a Black & White theme.

More hints and style inspiration will be shared nearer the event, but for now, think classic elegance with a monochrome twist.

Charity Raffle: Supporting Worthwhile Causes

The evening also provides an opportunity to give back through our charity raffle, supporting two important causes in 2026: The British Heart Foundation and Alzheimer’s Society.

Guests can take part while enjoying the excitement of the evening, helping to raise vital funds and make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.

Join us for the 2026 PPMA Awards Ceremony on Thursday 23rd April 2026 at The Hilton Birmingham Metropole NEC for an inspiring night of celebration, connection and recognition.

Book now for both the Annual Conference and Awards Evening.

Secure your place today.

BOOK NOW

Award showcase webinars

Every autumn following the PPMA Excellence in People Management Awards, we host our Awards Showcase Webinars. These sessions  highlight some of the standout shortlisted entries from that year’s awards.

The webinars provide PPMA members with the opportunity to explore exceptional entries in more detail and engage directly with the  organisations involved through live Q&As. They also give the participating organisations a platform to showcase their work, share insights, and highlight the impact of their initiatives in greater depth.

You can watch previous years’ webinars below.

Meet Our Judges

The PPMA Excellence in People Management Awards are judged by a diverse and highly respected panel of senior leaders from across local and central government, the third sector, and the private sector. Our judges bring a wealth of experience, professional credibility, and deep sector insight, ensuring a fair, rigorous, and values-led judging process.

We are delighted to welcome a mix of returning judges and new voices for 2026, all of whom are recognised experts in their fields and passionate advocates for excellence in people management.

You can find full biographies of our judging panel in the downloadable Judges Bio Pack, which provides further detail on their roles, experience, and professional backgrounds.

MEET OUR JUDGES

Excellence in People Management Awards 2025 

Last year, we celebrated our Awards in Manchester at The Midland Hotel. It was a double celebration, as we also marked PPMA’s 50th year. To honor this milestone, the evening’s theme was GOLD, treating guests to a night of glitz and glamour. Hosted by Shazia Mirza, the event was filled with thrills, laughter, and plenty of surprises.

You can view the full list of our 2025 winners by clicking below:

2025 WINNERS