Public Sector Transformation Awards 2023
An opportunity to celebrate and share the most innovative practice in transforming local public services
Nominations will open on Monday 5th September 2022
iESE Award Categories 2023
In 2022 we received 261 award nominations from 81 different public sector organisations from the UK and overseas. It’s been the highest amount of nominations that we have seen to date, making it one of the most competitive years ever. We hope to see similar numbers for our next award event.
We have listed the awards categories below for the iESE Awards 2023.
Asset Management and Regeneration Award
Local communities rely on a wide range of assets whether publicly owned or not. This award is for asset management and regeneration that delivers proven benefits to local public services and their communities.
Best Transformation Team
This award recognises a team who has made an exceptional contribution and long-term positive impact in their organisation through a series of transformation and continuous improvement. They continuously look for new ways to innovate and push the boundaries of local public service deployment.
Communications Award
No matter the budget, topic or channel, this award is for public service communications that are imaginative, engaging and have above all made a real impact. It encompasses advertising campaigns, websites, social media and publications.
Community Focus Award
This award is for the initiative that does most to reinvigorate the local community. This might be for a major programme of regeneration that creates economic opportunity for the local area or initiatives that engage the local community, creating greater resilience, better life chances and less dependency on public services.
Customer Focus Award
This award is for the organisation that delivers outstanding service to their customers. It recognises those that demonstrate the link between excellent customer service and improved service performance.
Best Use of Data Insight
This award is for the use of data insight and the application of data, rewarding creative approaches to managing and manipulating data to deliver outstanding results.
Best Use of Digital and Technology
This award is for the innovative use of digital tools and technology, from remodelling existing services, to creating totally new and dynamic services that lead to improved outcomes.
Award for Efficiency and Effectiveness
This organisation has harnessed the real potential in their organisation, delivering elevated performance, creating efficiencies, and delivering outstanding customer service with improved value to their residents. Above all, this organisation has shown its ability to adapt a virus-fuelled environment and achieve fantastic results in doing so.
Green Public Service Award
This category recognises, rewards and promotes environmental best practice across the public sector in the UK. This organisation has shown how they have helped the environment and improved sustainability not only in their organisation, but their surrounding community.
Award for Innovation
This category is not only open to the public sector but also private or third sector organisations. This category is for developing and/or bringing to market new innovative technologies or facilities that can transform the delivery of a local public service.
Transformation in Health & Social Care Award
Submissions can be based upon transforming access to services, remodelling the service, working in partnership or a combination of all three. The winning applications will have demonstrated the greatest impact for customers of health and social care.
Working Together Award
This category is for simplifying the way that residents and local businesses deal with public services, bringing together multiple contact points, removing the barriers between organisations, and moving resources closer to the customer.
UK Council of the Year 2023
UK Fire & Rescue Service of the Year 2023
UK Police Service of the Year 2023
International Public Body of the Year 2023
iESE Awards FAQs
Who can apply for the iESE Awards 2023?
The iESE Awards are open to any public sector organisation across the UK and internationally.
What is the nomination process for the iESE Awards?
To apply for the iESE Awards, you will need to download and complete our nomination form which will ask you to cover the following sections in a maximum of 5000 words:
- An overview of your nomination
- How has your initiative showed innovation?
- How has your initiative has had an impact?
- How has your initiative improved the skills and capabilities?
- What was the quality of delivery of the initiative?
- How has the initiative made a contribution to the sector?
Each submission is scored and judges against other submissions within each category. The scoring key as follows:
- 0: No reference to the criteria at all
- 1 – 3: Mention of criteria somewhere in the nomination
- 4 – 6: Described at some length, with the relevant information
- 7 – 10: Evidence has been given that it has been done
Once completed, you need to send your nomination form to enquiries@iese.org.uk by Friday 13th January 2023. We also encourage you to submit any additional documents or videos that will help support your nomination.
Can I be nominated for more than one category?
Yes. If you are unsure which category you believe your nomination fits, then of course you can submit it for several categories. Alternatively, if our judging panel believe that your nomination is better suited elsewhere they will move it to where they think it fits best.
I can’t see a category that fits my nomination very well – what happens there?
We have seen the judging panel create brand new categories if they identify an emerging trend amongst the nominations – so it’s not unusual for you to be a finalist for completely brand spanking new category!
When will I hear back from the judging?
We aim to let all successful finalists know 4 weeks before the awards ceremony on Wednesday 8th March 2023, so this year you can expect to hear from us on the week 6th February 2023. If you have any questions, please contact enquiries@iese.org.uk .
What happens if I’m not successful?
For nominations that don’t quite make the cut to be an award’s finalist, but are still deemed excellent from our judging panel, we will present you with a Certificate of Excellence to mark your outstanding efforts in improving and transforming local public services.
If you have been awarded with an iESE Certificate of Excellence 2023, these will be posted out to you after our awards event. We will be in touch to ask if you would be willing to participate in an online showcase of your work.
iESE Awards 2022
Click on the button below to see last year’s award winners.

Contact Us
If you have a question about the iESE Awards 2023, please click on the button below or email us directly at enquiries@iese.org.uk .
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PPE
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Financial Resilience
Building financial resilience during current financial climate to tackle budgetary pressures ensuring efficient and effective spend tax-payer’s money.
Digital Transformation
Digital transformation key to meeting the changing needs of residents and enabling local areas to thrive using new tools and technology.
Social Care
Better manage the cost of care to tackle the reduction in local government funding and increasing demand for social care services.
Strategy
Improve your strategy and strategic leadership to achieve efficient and effective service delivery that is sustainable in the long term.
Demand Management
Understanding customer demand and assessing customer focus is key to driving whole organisation efficiency using a community-enabling approach.
Capacity and Change
Identifying capacity using behaviour-led approach to public service transformation and ensuring successful culture change through behaviour assessments.












































