Announcing the finalists of the APSE Service Awards 2026

 

We are delighted to announce the finalists of the APSE Service Awards 2026.  

The awards recognise the outstanding work taking place in local authorities across the UK and celebrate excellence in frontline service delivery. This year, the awards feature 17 categories, covering a wide range of local government services.  

 

Speaking about the awards, Mo Baines, APSE Chief Executive, said:  

"With devolution and local government firmly in the spotlight, these awards provide an opportunity to celebrate the excellent frontline service teams working tirelessly to deliver for residents and make a positive impact on their communities.  

As many local councils navigate reorganisation and adapt to a changing local government landscape, the dedication, innovation and resilience of these teams have never been more important. 

Congratulations to all of the finalists. We look forward to celebrating your achievements in Liverpool!" 

 

Winners will be announced at the APSE Service Awards Charity Dinner, in aid of Parkinson's UK, on Thursday 17 September at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Princes Dock, Liverpool. 

 

Click here to book your place at the APSE Annual Seminar and Service Awards. 

 

Best Workforce Initiative 

Carmarthenshire County Council  

East Ayrshire Council 

Erewash Borough Council  

Flintshire County Council  

South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership 

South Tyneside Council  

Wealden District Council  

Wigan Council 

 

Best Building and Housing Initiative 

Fife Council (A Blueprint for the Future: Transforming Occupied High-Rise Homes) 

Fife Council (Hill Street, Cowdenbeath (Valley House) – Regeneration of a brownfield site) 

ODS 

Sefton Council  

Watford Borough Council  

Wealden District Council  

 

Best Efficiency and Transformation Initiative 

Cumberland Council  

East and North Herts Councils 

East Ayrshire Council  

Hounslow Highways  

Outcomes Matter Consulting with the London Borough of Ealing 

South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership 

Watford Borough Council  

 

Best Health and Wellbeing Initiative 

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council  

Durham County Council 

East Ayrshire Council  

Inverclyde council 

Local Government East  

Nottingham City Council  

Watford Borough Council  

Winchester City Council  

 

Best Public / Private Partnership Working Initiative 

Cornwall Council  

Derry and Strabane District Council 

Kent County Council  

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council  

Outcomes Matter Consulting with the London Borough of Ealing 

Sheffield City Council  

Stevenage Borough Council  

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council  

 

Best Collaborative Working Initiative 

Fife Council (One Team, One Vision: Safely Transforming Occupied High-Rise Homes) 

Fife Council (Climate Action Fife: Transforming Climate Action Through Public–Third Sector Collaboration)  

Inverclyde Council  

Kent County Council  

North Tyneside Council  

ODS  

Outcomes Matter consulting with the London Borough of Ealing  

South Ayrshire Council  

YES Energy Solutions CIC Company  

 

Best Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship Initiative 

Derby City Council 

Haringey Council  

Lancashire County Council  

Liverpool City Council 

London Borough of Islington  

Nottingham City Council  

Outcomes Matter Consulting with the London Borough of Ealing  

 

Best Community and Neighbourhood Initiative 

Kent County Council  

Lancashire County Council  

Liverpool City Council  

ODS  

South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership  

South Ayrshire Council  

Stockton-on-Tees Borough council  

Torfaen County Borough Council  

Wirral Council  

 

Best Innovation or Demand Management Initiative  

Hounslow Highways 

Kent County Council  

Lancashire County Council  

Liverpool City Council  

Outcomes Matter Consulting with the London Borough of Ealing  

Torfaen County Borough Council 

Watford Borough Council  

 

Best Climate Action or Decarbonisation Initiative 

Amey Ltd  

East Lothian Council  

Hackney Council  

Inverclyde Council  

South Kesteven District Council  

Tayside Contracts  

Torfaen County Borough Council 

Winchester City Council 

 

Best Service Team of the Year: Soft Facilities Management 

Carmarthenshire County Council 

East Riding of Yorkshire Council  

Juniper Ventures 

Lancashire County Council  

North Yorkshire Council  

Vinci Facilities  

 

Best Service Team of the Year: Technical Services 

East Lothian Council  

Hackney Council  

Hounslow Highways  

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council  

Midlothian Council  

Wigan Council  

 

Best Service Team of the Year: Recycling, Waste and Circular Economy 

Flintshire County Council  

Lancashire County Council  

East and North Herts Councils  

North Kesteven District council  

Sherbourne Recycling – via Coventry City Council  

South Lanarkshire Council  

 

Best Service Team of the Year: Streetscene 

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council  

Cumberland Council  

Ipswich Borough Council  

Luton Council  

Newport City Council  

Sefton Council  

Westminster City Council  

 

Best Service Team of the Year: Parks, Grounds and Horticultural  

Cardiff Council  

Gravesham Borough Council 

Nottingham City Council 

Torfaen County Borough Council  

Watford Borough Council (Active, Inclusive, Award-Winning: The Watford Parks and Open Spaces Story)  

Watford Borough Council (The transformation of Watford’s parks through the ‘Green Spaces Strategy’)  

 

Best Service Team of the Year: Cemetery and Crematorium  

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council  

East Lothian Council  

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council  

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council  

Watford Borough Council  

Wirral Council  

 

Best Service Team of the Year: Sports, Leisure and Cultural  

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council 

Carmarthenshire County Council  

Gravesham Borough Council 

South Ayrshire Council  

Warwick District Council  

Wealden District Council