With Gamescom now firmly in the past, the editorial team at GamesIndustry.biz has turned its attention to the evaluation process for this year’s Best Places To Work Awards. While the deadline for the flagship awards – which are assessed using anonymous feedback from employees – has already passed, we have decided to lengthen the nomination window for the Special Awards.
These supplemental categories celebrate organisations that excel in particular domains, and we want to give as many companies as possible the chance to put their best foot forward. The new cut‑off for submitting nominations to the following Special Awards is midnight on Monday, 7 September. Unlike the core Best Places to Work categories, these recognitions are stand‑alone and are open to any UK‑based business that operates within, or collaborates with, the video‑games sector.
Below is a quick rundown of the areas we are currently seeking nominees for: - **The Diversity Award** – honouring firms that have made measurable strides in building inclusive workplaces where people of all backgrounds feel valued. - **The Green Award** – recognising companies that have implemented effective environmental initiatives, reduced their carbon footprint, or championed sustainability throughout their operations. - **HR Hero Award** – celebrating human‑resources teams or individuals who have introduced innovative policies, programmes or practices that markedly improve employee experience.
- **Training and Development Award** – acknowledging organisations that provide outstanding learning opportunities, mentorship schemes or career‑progression pathways for their staff. - **Education Award** – highlighting partnerships with educational institutions, apprenticeship schemes, or internal programmes that help nurture the next generation of talent for the games industry. - **Corporate Social Responsibility Award** – rewarding businesses that demonstrate a genuine commitment to giving back to the community, whether through charitable work, ethical sourcing, or responsible business conduct.
- **Health and Well‑Being Award** – focusing on companies that prioritize mental and physical health, offering supportive resources, flexible working arrangements, or wellness initiatives that make a tangible difference to employee wellbeing. Nominations can be submitted by anyone – whether you are an employee, a partner, a supplier, or an external observer who has witnessed a company’s exemplary performance in one of these fields.
All entries will be reviewed by an independent panel of industry experts next week, with the results announced at the awards ceremony scheduled for 1 October. In addition to the awards, we would like to remind you that tickets are still on sale for the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit. This year’s summit will centre on the future of People & Work, exploring emerging trends, technology, and strategies that will shape how studios attract, retain and develop talent in a rapidly evolving market.
The summit will run during the day preceding the awards ceremony, offering a valuable opportunity to network with peers, hear from thought‑leaders, and gain insights that can be directly applied to your organisation’s HR practices. To submit a nomination, simply visit our dedicated awards portal, fill out the brief questionnaire for the relevant category, and provide any supporting evidence or case studies that illustrate why the nominee deserves recognition. We encourage you to be as specific as possible – concrete examples of impact, data points, and testimonials will strengthen the submission and help the judges assess the true merit of each entry.
Remember, the Special Awards are not just about winning a trophy; they serve as a benchmark for best practice within the industry. By highlighting achievements in diversity, sustainability, employee development and wellbeing, we aim to inspire other companies to adopt similar standards and raise the overall quality of workplaces across the gaming sector. If you have any questions about the nomination process, the criteria for each award, or the upcoming HR Summit, please do not hesitate to reach out to the GamesIndustry.biz awards team via the contact details provided on the website.
We look forward to receiving your entries and celebrating the organisations that are leading the way in creating better, more inclusive, and more responsible workplaces for everyone involved in making games.