With Gamescom now comfortably 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 (BPTW) Awards. While the primary award entries have already closed – those are assessed using anonymised feedback from employees – we have decided to lengthen the nomination window for our Special Awards.
These supplementary categories celebrate organisations that excel in particular aspects of workplace excellence, and we want to give as many companies as possible the opportunity to put their best foot forward. The extended deadline means that nominations for the following special categories will be accepted until 23:59 GMT on Monday, 7 September. Unlike the headline BPTW categories, which focus on overall employee satisfaction, these awards are targeted at distinct areas of performance and are open to any UK‑based business that operates within or collaborates with the games sector.
The special categories are: - **Diversity Award** – recognising firms that have made measurable progress in building inclusive teams and fostering a culture where diverse voices are heard and valued. - **Green Award** – honouring organisations that have implemented effective environmental‑sustainability initiatives, reduced carbon footprints, or pioneered eco‑friendly practices in game development and publishing. - **HR Hero Award** – celebrating human‑resources professionals or teams that have introduced innovative policies, programmes, or support structures that significantly improve the employee experience. - **Training and Development Award** – highlighting companies that invest heavily in upskilling their staff, offering robust learning pathways, mentorship schemes, and continuous professional development opportunities.
- **Education Award** – acknowledging partnerships with educational institutions, apprenticeship schemes, or outreach programmes that help nurture the next generation of talent for the games industry. - **Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award** – rewarding businesses that demonstrate a strong commitment to social responsibility, whether through charitable contributions, community engagement, or ethical business practices. - **Health and Well‑Being Award** – recognizing employers that prioritise mental and physical health, providing resources such as wellness programmes, flexible working arrangements, and supportive workplace environments.
Nominations can be submitted by anyone – internal staff members, external partners, clients, or even competitors – as long as they can provide concrete examples of why the nominated organisation deserves recognition in the chosen category. All submissions will be reviewed by an independent panel of industry experts and HR specialists. Judging is slated to take place next week, giving the panel sufficient time to assess each entry against the criteria before the awards ceremony on 1 October.
In addition to the awards, tickets are still on sale for the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit, which will be held on the day preceding the ceremony. This year’s summit is themed “The Future of People & Work,” and it will feature a series of panels, workshops, and keynote speeches from leading voices in talent management, organisational culture, and workplace innovation. Attendees will have the chance to hear about emerging trends, share best practices, and network with peers from across the industry – all of which can help inform the nominations they submit for the Special Awards.
Why extend the deadline? Feedback from previous years indicated that many organisations needed more time to collate evidence of their achievements, especially for categories that require detailed data such as sustainability metrics or diversity statistics.
By giving an extra week, we aim to ensure that the most deserving candidates are not excluded simply because of timing constraints. This also aligns with our broader commitment to fairness and inclusivity in the awards process. If you represent a studio, publisher, service provider, or any other entity that contributes to the UK games ecosystem, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of this extended window.
Review the criteria for each award on the official BPTW website, gather supporting documentation – such as employee surveys, sustainability reports, training curricula, or CSR impact statements – and submit a compelling nomination. Remember, the Special Awards are an excellent platform to showcase your organisation’s strengths in specific domains and to gain industry-wide recognition for initiatives that often go unnoticed in broader employee‑satisfaction surveys. Whether you excel at fostering a diverse workplace, championing environmental stewardship, or prioritising employee well‑being, there is a category that fits your achievements.
To submit a nomination, visit the Best Places To Work Awards portal, select the appropriate category, and fill in the required fields. You will be asked to provide a brief overview of the initiative, quantitative results where available, and any testimonials or case studies that illustrate impact. Once submitted, your entry will be securely stored and only accessed by the judging panel.
We look forward to receiving your nominations and celebrating the outstanding work being done across the UK games industry. Good luck, and see you at the awards ceremony on 1 October!