With Gamescom now firmly in the past, the editorial team at GamesIndustry.biz has turned its attention to the critical task of evaluating the submissions for this year’s Best Places To Work Awards. While the primary award categories have already closed for entries—these are assessed using confidential feedback from employees—the organizers have decided to lengthen the nomination window for the Special Awards. These particular honors are designed to spotlight superior performance in distinct, high‑impact areas within the games sector. The extended deadline means that nominations for the following special categories will be accepted up until 23:59 GMT on Monday, 7 September.
Unlike the main Best Places to Work (BPTW) categories, these awards are independent of the core employee‑satisfaction metrics and are open to any UK‑based company that operates within, or collaborates with, the video‑games industry. This inclusive approach encourages a broad range of organisations—from indie studios to large publishers, from support service providers to educational institutions—to put forward their most compelling examples of excellence. The special categories currently on offer are: - **The Diversity Award** – celebrating companies that have implemented robust strategies to foster inclusive workplaces, ensuring representation across gender, ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, and other dimensions of identity. - **The Green Award** – recognizing initiatives that reduce environmental impact, such as carbon‑footprint reduction programs, sustainable sourcing, waste minimisation, or innovative use of renewable energy in production pipelines.
- **HR Hero Award** – honouring human‑resources professionals or teams who have gone above and beyond to support staff, improve workplace culture, or introduce groundbreaking HR practices. - **Training and Development Award** – highlighting organisations that invest heavily in upskilling their workforce, offering mentorship schemes, continuous learning opportunities, and clear career progression pathways. - **Education Award** – acknowledging contributions to formal or informal education, whether through partnerships with academic institutions, apprenticeship schemes, or community outreach that nurtures the next generation of talent. - **Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award** – rewarding companies that demonstrate a genuine commitment to societal good, through charitable work, community engagement, ethical business conduct, or initiatives that address social challenges.
- **Health and Well‑Being Award** – focusing on programmes that promote physical and mental health, such as wellness benefits, flexible working arrangements, mental‑health support services, and initiatives that encourage a balanced work‑life integration. Nominations can be submitted by anyone with insight into the organisation’s practices—this includes internal employees, external partners, clients, or industry observers.
The flexibility of who may nominate ensures that the most authentic and comprehensive picture of a company’s achievements can be captured. Once the nomination period closes, a panel of industry experts and thought leaders will convene to review the submissions. The judging process is slated to take place next week, with results announced at the awards ceremony scheduled for 1 October.
In addition to the awards themselves, GamesIndustry.biz is hosting its annual HR Summit, which remains open for registration. This year’s summit will centre on the theme “The Future of People & Work,” exploring emerging trends, technology‑driven HR solutions, and strategies for building resilient, adaptable teams in an ever‑evolving industry landscape.
The summit will run during the day preceding the awards ceremony, offering attendees a valuable opportunity to network, share best practices, and gain insights from leading HR professionals. For companies that have already made strides in any of the highlighted areas, this extended nomination window provides a crucial chance to gain industry‑wide recognition.
Being shortlisted or winning a Special Award can enhance a company’s reputation, attract top talent, and reinforce its commitment to responsible and forward‑thinking business practices. Moreover, the visibility generated by the awards can inspire other organisations to adopt similar initiatives, thereby elevating the overall standards of diversity, sustainability, employee welfare, and social responsibility across the UK games sector. To submit a nomination, interested parties should visit the official Best Places to Work Awards portal, where detailed guidelines and submission forms are available.
Each entry should include concrete examples, measurable outcomes, and, where possible, supporting data or testimonials that illustrate the impact of the programme or policy being recognised. The more evidence provided, the stronger the case for consideration. In summary, the extension of the voting period for the Special Awards underscores GamesIndustry.biz’s commitment to celebrating a wide spectrum of achievements that go beyond traditional workplace satisfaction metrics. Whether your organisation excels in fostering diversity, championing environmental stewardship, advancing employee health, or driving social impact, now is the time to put your success story forward.
The deadline is fast approaching—ensure your nomination is in before the stroke of midnight on 7 September, and join your peers in a celebration of excellence that will shape the future of work in the gaming industry. Tickets for the HR Summit remain available, so consider attending to deepen your understanding of the issues that matter most to today’s workforce.
Together, we can build a more inclusive, sustainable, and thriving games industry for everyone.