We are delighted to announce the shortlist of nominees for the special‑category awards that form part of the 2026 GamesIndustry.biz Best Places To Work Awards in the United Kingdom. These particular recognitions celebrate outstanding performance in focused areas of workplace excellence and sit alongside the broader Best Places to Work Awards, which are divided into small, medium and large company categories. Leading the field in terms of overall nominations is NaturalMotion Games, a studio owned by Zynga, which has secured a place in five distinct special‑award categories. Close on its heels is Rocksteady Studios, based in London, with four nominations.
Jagex, Playground Games and Rare each appear as finalists in three categories, underscoring their continued commitment to nurturing positive work environments. The 2026 programme also re‑introduces the HR Hero Award, a distinction that honours an individual who consistently goes above and beyond to support colleagues and elevate the culture within their organisation. This year’s shortlist includes representatives from Frontier Developments, IO Interactive, HundredStar Games, Jagex and Playstack, each of whom has demonstrated exceptional dedication to people‑focused initiatives.
Sponsorship for the awards comes from a range of industry partners, including IO Interactive, Games London and Special Effect. The HR Summit and the G Into Gaming Award receive backing from Amiqus recruitment.
As Liz Prince MBE, Business Manager at Amiqus, explains, “The Best Places To Work Awards shine a spotlight on the studios and businesses that are turning those ideas into action. Bringing the industry together to both learn from each other and celebrate success helps raise standards for everyone, and we’re proud to play a part in that.” All special‑award winners, together with the overall Best Places to Work winners, will be announced at a gala ceremony held at The Royal Institution in London on 1 October 2026.
This celebration follows the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit, also sponsored by Amiqus, which takes place earlier the same day at the same venue. The summit’s keynote speaker, Sasi Venables – founder of the HR Confidence Club – will discuss the evolving role of people leadership as workplace expectations shift for HR professionals. In addition, Niki Head, People and Development Director at Stellar Entertainment, will lead a practical workshop titled “Challenge without conflict: how HR becomes a ‘critical friend’ to leadership.” The HR Summit’s agenda covers a broad spectrum of timely topics, such as: - Effective collaboration with trade unions and navigating collective bargaining processes; - Strategies for supporting and managing neurodivergent employees, ensuring inclusive practices are embedded across the organisation; - Developing workforce, leadership and capability plans that address the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into everyday work; - Practical guidance on handling AI‑generated casework within employee‑relations scenarios, balancing efficiency with fairness.
Further details about the summit, including a full list of speakers and session descriptions, will be published shortly. Tickets granting access to both the summit and the Best Places to Work Awards ceremony are currently available for purchase. Below is the comprehensive list of finalists for each special‑award category in the 2026 GamesIndustry.biz Best Places To Work Awards UK: Category 1: - Jagex: The RuneScape Company - NaturalMotion Games - Playground Games - Rocksteady Studios - Wushu Studios Category 2: - Maverick Games - NaturalMotion Games - Rare - Snap Finger Click Category 3: - Dink - Electric Square - Jagex: The RuneScape Company - Rocksteady Studios - Two Point Studios Category 4: - NaturalMotion Games - Playground Games - Rare - Rocksteady Studios Category 5: - Behaviour Interactive UK - Hangar 13 - NaturalMotion Games - Rare - Rocksteady Studios Category 6: - Behaviour Interactive UK - Jagex: The RuneScape Company - NaturalMotion Games - Playground Games HR Hero Award nominees: - Yvonne Dawes, Frontier Developments - Tuoya Joe, HundredStar Games - Gary Martin, Jagex: The RuneScape Company - Carmen Martino, Playstack - Anna Stone, Playground Games - Leah Wilson, IO Interactive These nominees reflect a vibrant and diverse sector that is actively investing in the wellbeing and development of its people.
The upcoming ceremony will not only celebrate the achievements of these studios and individuals but also set a benchmark for workplace excellence across the gaming industry for years to come.