Announcing the winners of APSE Performance Networks Awards 2025

APSE Performance Networks is pleased to announce the winners in the most improved and best performer categories for the Performance Networks Awards for 2025. The awards ceremony took place at the Performance Networks Seminar at the Village Hotel, Blackpool on the evening of Thursday 4 December 2025.

The awards were announced by Emma Jesson.

Commenting on the Awards, Mo Baines, APSE Chief Executive said:

“With the continued pressures on council finances, the effective use of data to improve performance is more important than ever.

“It is fantastic to see so many local authorities successfully utilising APSE’s benchmarking to develop their frontline services and achieve excellence. Congratulations to all winners and finalists.”

The charity awards dinner is a special event in the local government calendar and in recent years has raised over £50,000 for Parkinsons UK.

For photographs of the finalists please contact Maria Kenny on [email protected]

 

Building Cleaning

Best performer

Caerphilly County Borough Council

East Ayrshire Council

East Renfrewshire Council

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

Moray Council

South Lanarkshire Council

Winner: East Renfrewshire Council

 

Most improved performer

Aberdeenshire Council

Caerphilly County Borough Council

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

Inverclyde Council

Moray Council

Winner: Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

 

Building Maintenance

Best performer

Conwy County Borough Council

Durham County Council

Fife Council

Moray Council

North Ayrshire Council

South Ayrshire Council

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

Winner: South Ayrshire Council

 

Most improved performer

Dundee City Council

Fife Council

Flintshire County Council

South Ayrshire Council

West Dunbartonshire Council

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

Winner: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

 

Catering Services

Best performer

Denbighshire County Council

Derbyshire County Council

Dumfries and Galloway Council

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

South Lanarkshire Council

Winner: Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

 

Most improved performer

City of Doncaster Council

Denbighshire County Council

Dumfries and Galloway Council

East Renfrewshire Council

South Lanarkshire Council

Tayside Contracts

Winner: Dumfries and Galloway Council

 

Cemetery and Crematorium Services

Best performer

Aberdeen City Council

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Flintshire County Council

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

Herefordshire Council

Northumberland County Council

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Winner: Flintshire County Council

 

Most improved performer

Durham County Council

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

Nottingham City Council

South Lanarkshire Council

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

Winner: South Lanarkshire Council

 

Parks, Open Spaces and Horticultural Services

Best performer

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Chelmsford City Council

Colchester City Council

East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Nottingham City Council

Stafford Borough Council

West Lothian Council

Winner: Chelmsford City Council

 

Most improved performer

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Chelmsford City Council

Kirklees Council

West Lothian Council

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

Winner: West Lothian Council

 

Refuse Collection

Best performer

Bolsover District Council

Huntingdonshire District Council

North Ayrshire Council

North East Derbyshire District Council

North Lincolnshire Council

Telford and Wrekin Council

Winner: Huntingdonshire District Council

 

Most improved performer

East Ayrshire Council

Kirklees Council

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

North Ayrshire Council

Sevenoaks District Council

Stirling Council

Winner: North Ayrshire Council

 

Roads, Highways and Winter Maintenance

Best performer

East Renfrewshire Council

Falkirk Council

Milton Keynes Council

North Ayrshire Council

Scottish Borders Council

South Ayrshire Council

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

Winner: North Ayrshire Council

 

Most improved performer

Angus Council

Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar

East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Kent County Council

Scottish Borders Council

Winner: East Riding of Yorkshire Council

 

Sports and Leisure Facility Management

Best performer

Ards and North Down Borough Council: Ards Blair Mayne Wellness and Leisure Centre

Chelmsford City Council: Riverside Leisure Centre

East Riding of Yorkshire Council: East Riding Leisure Hornsea

North East Derbyshire District Council: Dronfield Active

North Northamptonshire Council: Lodge Park Sports Centre

Uttlesford District Council: The Mountfitchet Romeera Leisure Centre

Wyre Borough Council: Poulton YMCA Leisure Centre

Winner: North Northamptonshire Council

 

Most improved performer

East Riding of Yorkshire Council: East Riding Leisure Haltemprice

North East Derbyshire District Council: Dronfield Active

North Lincolnshire Council: NL Active, Live Well Isle of Axholme

North Northamptonshire Council: Lodge Park Sports Centre

Nottingham City Council: Harvey Hadden Sports Centre

South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council: Hebburn Central

Winner: East Riding of Yorkshire Council

 

Street Cleansing

Best performer

Bolsover District Council

Huntingdonshire District Council

London Borough of Hounslow

Oxford Direct Services Ltd

Stafford Borough Council

West Lindsey District Council

West Lothian Council

Winner: Oxford Direct Services Ltd

 

Most improved performer

Blackpool Council

Falkirk Council

Kirklees Council

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

North Ayrshire Council

Oxford Direct Services Ltd

Preston City Council

South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

Winner: Blackpool Council

 

Street Lighting 

Best performer

Conwy County Borough Council

Denbighshire County Council

Newport City Council

Pembrokeshire County Council

Perth and Kinross Council

West Lothian Council

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

Winner: Denbighshire County Council

 

Most improved performer

Denbighshire County Council

Dundee City Council

East Ayrshire Council

Perth and Kinross Council

South Ayrshire Council

Telford and Wrekin Council

Winner: East Ayrshire Council

 

Streetscene

Best performer

Bolsover District Council

Cambridge City Council

Conwy County Borough Council

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council

Stafford Borough Council

Telford and Wrekin Council

Winner: Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council

 

Transport Operations and Vehicle Maintenance

Best performer

Mansfield District Council

Nottingham City Council

Plymouth City Council

Sheffield City Council

Shetland Islands Council

Tayside Contracts

Winner: Plymouth City Council

 

Most improved performer

Bolsover District Council

Plymouth City Council

Sheffield City Council

Shetland Islands Council

Tayside Contracts

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

Winner: Tayside Contracts