Ikigai® are proudly sponsoring the iESE Awards 2026, an annual event hosted by iESE CIC to celebrate outstanding transformation projects within the UK and international public sectors. The awards, now firmly established as a benchmark for excellence in local government and public service innovation, provide an opportunity to share and celebrate the significant achievements of organisations that are improving outcomes for communities through creativity, collaboration, and effective service redesign. This year, Ikigai® will play a central role in selecting the finalists for the Best Transformation Team award, who will be invited to an exclusive awards evening in March, in the heart of Westminster.
About Ikigai®
With over twenty years of experience, Ikigai® is a leading provider of interim management, executive search, and management consultancy services to local government organisations across the UK.
Led by a team of highly skilled change specialists, Ikigai’s unique approach helps clients embed people and purpose at the heart of their organisational structures, as well as into change and transformation initiatives – a philosophy designed to ensure that every change journey is impactful, sustainable, collaborative, and culturally aligned.
Beyond delivering exceptional services, Ikigai® reinvests a portion of its profits into social impact initiatives, including wellbeing programmes, employability support for disadvantaged communities, and activities that promote equality and inclusion. This approach reflects Ikigai’s broader mission to create long-term, positive change — both within organisations and in the communities they serve.
The partnership between iESE CIC and Ikigai® is underpinned by a shared belief that the hard work behind transformation projects should be recognised, celebrated, and used to inspire others across the sector. For more than 20 years, iESE CIC has embodied this ethos as a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting public sector transformation. In that time, it has helped members and clients deliver over £1 billion in real savings, empowering them to meet evolving challenges with confidence, creativity, and resilience.
The iESE Awards Nomination Support Webinar
Each year, the iESE Awards receive hundreds of submissions from organisations across the UK and internationally. These entries span a wide variety of categories, from digital technology and data insight to community and customer focus, green initiatives, health & social care transformation, and more. All submissions are rigorously evaluated by a panel of judges who assess their impact, creativity, and alignment with long-term organisational goals. Only three finalists are selected in each category, making the awards a highly competitive and respected accolade.
To help applicants strengthen their submissions and gain deeper insight into what judges are looking for, Ikigai® and iESE CIC are launching an exclusive support webinar that aims to elucidate the judging criteria and provide behind-the-scenes guidance on how to craft an impactful, standout entry.
Judges Annabelle Atkins (Chief Executive of iESE CIC), Simon Parker (Executive Director of Resources at Bath & Northeast Somerset Council), Susan Attard (Head of Productivity, Local Government Association), and Cllr David Tutt (Chairman of iESE CIC) will share practical advice on articulating outcomes, evidencing results, and presenting transformation narratives in clear and compelling ways to stand out to the rest of the judging panel. Their insights will be invaluable to both first-time applicants and returning organisations seeking to refine their approach.
If you are wondering how small adjustments to your submission could significantly elevate your nomination, this webinar is designed for you.
Don’t miss the upcoming webinar on Thursday, 11th December between 12:00 – 13:00PM