Announcing the finalists of the APSE Service Awards 2025

 

Celebrating excellence in local public services!

Speaking about the Awards, Mo Baines, APSE Chief Executive, said:" With reorganisation on the horizon for many councils and increased discussions around greater devolution for local government across the UK, these awards are an opportunity to acknowledge the dedication of our frontline service teams and their tireless work to support and improve their local communities. Through innovation and tenacity, you continue to strive for excellence even in difficult circumstances. Congratulations to all the finalists, we look forward to seeing you in Glasgow!”

The APSE Awards are specific to frontline services provided by UK local authorities. The awards are agreed by a panel of expert judges. This year, the Awards include 17 categories, covering the vast majority of local services. The shortlist for the prestigious Overall Council of the Year Award is still under deliberation and will be announced at a later date.

The winners will be announced at the APSE Annual Charity Awards Dinner, in aid of Parkinson’s UK, on Thursday 11 September 2025 at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel.

Booking your place at the APSE Service Awards?

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the event, priority will be given to delegate bookings in the first instance. To register your interest in dinner only or extra dinner places, complete this form. We will inform you if we are able to release any dinner places, but this may take up to four weeks. 

If you are a finalist but you are unable to attend the awards, please email the Service Awards Team at [email protected]. State your name, council, email address and category/categories. APSE will arrange for any certificates/trophies to be collected on your behalf and these will be posted on to you after the event. 

To guarantee your place we would advise booking your place as a delegate. The delegate booking form can be found here. 

Early booking is advised as this event sells out quickly and places cannot be guaranteed. 

 

Best Workforce initiative

Kindly sponsored by   

• ASSIST FM
• Dumfries and Galloway Council                                          
• East Ayrshire Council                                                                                                                    
• Kent County Council                                                                        
• London Borough of Hackney                                                      
• Mid Ulster District Council 
• Renfrewshire Council               

                                            

Best Building and Housing initiative

• Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council                   
• Derby City Council                                                                      
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council                                       
• Fife Council             
• Renfrewshire Council                                                           
• Stevenage Borough Council                                                 
• Telford and Wrekin Council         

                                        

Best Efficiency and Transformation initiative

• East Ayrshire Council                                              
• London Borough of Hackney                                  
• Pembrokeshire County Council                                  
• South Ayrshire Council                                             
• Tewkesbury Borough Council                         
• Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure         

                      

Best Health and Well-being initiative (inc. Social Care)

Kindly sponsored by  

• Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council             
• Dundee City Council                                                                                                                                       
• Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council           
• Outcomes Matter                                       
• Plymouth City Council                                               
• Renfrewshire Council                                       
• Swansea Council                                                
• Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure                            
• Wirral Council                       
•                                                  

Best Public / Private Partnership Working initiative

• Cambridge City Council                               
• Falkirk Council                                                      
• Gloucestershire County Council                                       
• London Borough of Hackney                                     
• Mid and East Antrim Borough Council                                 
• Northern Ireland Education Authority                             
• Renfrewshire Council                                 
• Stevenage Borough Council         

                           

Best Collaborative Working initiative (with other public sector or third sector)

Kindly sponsored by  

• Aberdeen City Council                                                  
• Belfast City, Derry City and Strabane District Council                                                                    
• Mid and East Antrim Borough Council         
• Outcomes Matter                       
• Oxford City Council                                                                  
• South Ayrshire Council                                                          
• Stockton on Tees Borough Council                             
• Swansea Council                                                                             
• Tayside Contracts       

                                                              

Best Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship initiative

• Belfast City Council                                                           
• Belfast City, Derry City and Strabane District Council   
• Coventry City Council; North Warwickshire Council; Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council; Rugby Borough Council; Shelbourne Recycling Ltd; Solihull Council; Stratford District Council; Walsall Council and Warwick District Council   
• Ipswich Borough Council     

 

Best Community and Neighbourhood initiative (inc. Community Safety)

• Bassetlaw District Council                
• Caerphilly County Borough Council                
• Dumfries and Galloway Council                  
• Highland Council                                    
• Renfrewshire Council                                    
• South and East Lincolnshire Councils                         
• South Cambridgeshire District Council                      
• Telford and Wrekin Council                                                
• Wyre Forest District Council 

                                                  

Best Innovation or Demand Management initiative

• Dumfries and Galloway Council      
• London Borough of Hackney              
• Mid and East Antrim Borough Council        
• Neath Port Talbot Council              
• Outcomes Matter                                                       
• Renfrewshire Council                                                                     
• South Ayrshire Council                                                               
• Stockton on Tees Borough Council                                      

 

Best Climate Action or Decarbonisation initiative

Kindly sponsored by  

• Brent Council                                                                            
• Calderdale Council                                                       
• Cambridge City Council                                                          
• Northern Ireland Education Authority                               
• Shropshire Council                               
• Suffolk County Council                                                   
• Tayside Contracts                                                           
• Torfaen County Borough Council                          

 

Best Service Team of the Year: Soft Facilities Management

• East Renfrewshire Council   
• Renfrewshire Council                                                    
• Salford City Council                                   
• Shropshire Council                   

                                            

Best Service Team of the Year: Technical services

• Glasgow City Council                                               
• Gloucestershire County Council                                   
• Highland Council                                                         
• Midlothian Council                                                             
• Wigan Council     

                                                                   

Best Service Team of the Year: Waste, Recycling and Streetscene

Kindly sponsored by  

• Amey Ltd on behalf of Sheffield City Council             
• Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council       
• Eastleigh Borough Council                    
• London Borough of Hackney                                            
• South Kesteven District Council                            
• South Tyneside Council                                          
• Wigan Council                                          

 

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

• Aberdeen City Council                                                                    
• Cardiff Council                                                                          
• Eastleigh Borough Council                                                
• Highland Council                                                                         
• Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council                                        
• Wyre Forest District Council

                                              

Best Service Team of the Year: Cemetery and Crematorium service

Kindly sponsored by  

• East Riding of Yorkshire Council                            
• Gravesham Borough Council                                          
• Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council                                        
• Stockton on Tees Borough Council                                            
• Walsall Council               

                                                              

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

• Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council            
• Derry City and Strabane District Council                    
• Rugby Borough Council                
• Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure                       
• Wakefield Council                      
• Walsall Council                               
• West Lindsey District Council