We are delighted to share the first batch of finalists for the special‑category awards that form part of the UK edition of the GamesIndustry.biz Best Places To Work Awards 2026. These supplemental awards spotlight outstanding performance in particular aspects of workplace excellence, complementing the main Best Places to Work categories that honour small, medium and large studios overall. Among the nominees, NaturalMotion Games – a studio owned by Zynga – once again dominates the field, securing a place in five distinct special‑award categories, the highest tally of any company this year. Hot on its heels, London‑based Rocksteady Studios has earned four nominations, while Jagex, Playground Games and Rare each appear as finalists in three separate categories.
The 2026 programme also re‑introduces the HR Hero Award, a distinction that celebrates an individual who consistently goes the extra mile to support colleagues and nurture a positive organisational culture. This year’s shortlist includes representatives from Frontier Developments, IO Interactive, HundredStar Games, Jagex, Playground Games and Playstack, each of whom has demonstrated exemplary dedication to their teams. 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.
Liz Prince MBE, Business Manager at Amiqus, explained the significance of the event: "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 recipients, will be announced at a gala ceremony held at The Royal Institution in London on 1 October 2026. This ceremony will follow the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit, also sponsored by Amiqus, which takes place earlier in the 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 hands‑on workshop titled “Challenge without conflict: how HR becomes a ‘critical friend’ to leadership.” The HR Summit agenda covers a breadth of timely topics, such as: - Strategies for effective collaboration with trade unions; - Best practices for supporting and managing neurodivergent employees; - Developing workforce, leadership and capability plans in response to the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the workplace; - Practical guidance on handling AI‑generated casework within employee‑relations contexts. Further details about the summit, including the complete speaker lineup and session descriptions, will be released shortly. Interested participants can purchase tickets for the summit and the awards ceremony via the provided link.
Below is the comprehensive list of special‑award finalists for the 2026 GamesIndustry.biz Best Places To Work Awards UK, grouped by category: - Jagex: The RuneScape Company - NaturalMotion Games - Playground Games - Rocksteady Studios - Wushu Studios - Maverick Games - NaturalMotion Games - Rare - Snap Finger Click - Dink - Electric Square - Jagex: The RuneScape Company - Rocksteady Studios - Two Point Studios - NaturalMotion Games - Playground Games - Rare - Rocksteady Studios - Behaviour Interactive UK - Hangar 13 - NaturalMotion Games - Rare - Rocksteady Studios - Behaviour Interactive UK - Jagex: The RuneScape Company - NaturalMotion Games - Playground Games Individual HR Hero nominees include: - 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 finalists represent a diverse cross‑section of the UK gaming sector, illustrating the industry’s commitment to fostering supportive, innovative and inclusive workplaces. The upcoming awards ceremony will not only honour these achievements but also provide a platform for sharing best practices that can elevate standards across the entire gaming community.