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 (BPTW) Awards. While the primary award categories have already closed for submissions and will be judged on the basis of anonymous employee surveys, we have decided to lengthen the nomination window for the Special Awards.
These supplementary honors are designed to spotlight organisations that excel in particular aspects of workplace excellence, such as diversity, environmental responsibility, training, and corporate citizenship. The extended deadline means that nominations for the following Special Award categories will be accepted up until 23:59 GMT on Monday, 7 September.
Unlike the headline BPTW categories, which are limited to companies that have completed the employee feedback questionnaire, the Special Awards are open to any UK‑based business that operates within, or collaborates with, the games sector. Whether you are a developer studio, a publishing house, a technology provider, or a service firm that supports the industry, you are eligible to put forward a nominee for any of the listed categories.
The Special Awards on offer this year are: - **The Diversity Award** – recognising firms that have made measurable progress in building inclusive workplaces where people of all backgrounds feel valued and can thrive. - **The Green Award** – honouring organisations that have implemented robust sustainability initiatives, reduced their carbon footprint, or pioneered eco‑friendly practices in game production and distribution. - **HR Hero Award** – celebrating HR leaders or teams that have introduced innovative people‑management strategies, championed employee wellbeing, or navigated complex workforce challenges with exceptional skill.
- **Training and Development Award** – acknowledging companies that invest heavily in upskilling their staff, provide continuous learning opportunities, and create clear career pathways within the industry. - **Education Award** – highlighting partnerships with educational institutions, mentorship programmes, or internal academies that nurture the next generation of talent for games. - **Corporate Social Responsibility Award** – rewarding businesses that give back to their communities, support charitable causes, or embed social responsibility into their core operations.
- **Health and Well‑Being Award** – focusing on initiatives that promote mental and physical health, work‑life balance, and a supportive environment for employee resilience. Nominations can be submitted by anyone with insight into the company’s practices – this includes internal employees, former staff, partners, suppliers, or even external observers who have witnessed the organisation’s achievements firsthand. Each nomination should include a concise description of why the nominee deserves recognition, supporting evidence such as statistics, case studies, or testimonials, and any relevant documentation that illustrates the impact of the initiative. Once the nomination period closes, a panel of independent judges with expertise in human resources, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and corporate governance will review the submissions.
The judging process will take place over the course of the following week, culminating in the announcement of the winners at the BPTW Awards ceremony scheduled for 1 October. The ceremony will be a high‑profile event attended by industry leaders, media, and award recipients, providing an excellent platform for winners to showcase their best practices and inspire peers. In addition to the awards, we would like to remind you that tickets are still on sale for the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit, which will run on the day preceding the awards ceremony. This year’s summit theme, "The Future of People & Work," will explore emerging trends in talent acquisition, employee engagement, remote and hybrid work models, and the evolving role of HR technology in the games sector.
Attendees will have the chance to hear from thought‑leaders, participate in interactive workshops, and network with peers who are shaping the future of workplace culture in gaming. If you are interested in nominating a company, or if you would like to attend the HR Summit, please visit the GamesIndustry.biz website for full details on the submission guidelines, judging criteria, and ticketing information. Remember, the extended deadline gives you a few extra days to gather the necessary evidence and craft a compelling nomination that truly reflects the nominee’s contributions to excellence in their field.
We encourage all eligible organisations to take advantage of this opportunity to gain industry-wide recognition for the hard work and innovative thinking that goes into building great workplaces. Whether your focus is on fostering diversity, reducing environmental impact, championing employee health, or delivering world‑class training, the Special Awards provide a platform to celebrate those achievements and set a benchmark for others to follow.
Don’t miss the chance to have your company’s successes highlighted at one of the most respected events in the games industry calendar. Submit your nomination by the midnight deadline on 7 September, and join us on 1 October for an evening of celebration, inspiration, and the acknowledgement of those who are making the games sector a better place to work.