We are delighted to announce the first set of finalists for the special‑category awards that accompany the 2026 GamesIndustry.biz Best Places To Work Awards in the United Kingdom. These special recognitions highlight outstanding performance in particular areas of workplace excellence, complementing the broader Best Places to Work awards that are presented across small, medium and large studio categories. Among the contenders, NaturalMotion Games—now part of Zynga—continues to dominate the nomination tally, securing a place as a finalist in five distinct special‑award categories.
Their strong showing underscores the studio’s consistent commitment to fostering a supportive and innovative environment for its staff. Close on their heels is Rocksteady Studios, based in London, which has earned four nominations across the special awards. Following them are Jagex, Playground Games and Rare, each of which has been shortlisted in three categories, reflecting their growing reputation as employers that prioritize employee wellbeing and professional development. The 2026 awards also bring back the HR Hero Award, a distinction that celebrates an individual who consistently goes above and beyond to champion teams and nurture a positive workplace culture.
This year’s shortlist features representatives from Frontier Developments, IO Interactive, HundredStar Games, Jagex, Playground Games and Playstack, all of whom have demonstrated exemplary leadership in human‑resources practice. 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, remarked, "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." The final winners of the special‑category awards, 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 will follow the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit, also sponsored by Amiqus, which takes place earlier in the day at the same venue.
The HR Summit will feature a keynote address by Sasi Venables, founder of the HR Confidence Club, who will discuss the evolving role of people leadership in a landscape of shifting workplace expectations. 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.” Other sessions on the summit agenda include: - Strategies for constructive collaboration with trade unions; - Best practices for supporting and managing neurodivergent employees; - Developing workforce, leadership and capability plans to address the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the workplace; - Practical guidance on handling AI‑generated casework within employee‑relations contexts. Further details about the HR Summit can be accessed via the provided link, and a complete roster of speakers and sessions will be released shortly. Tickets for the summit, which also grant entry to the Best Places to Work Awards ceremony, are currently on sale.
Below is the compiled list of finalists for each special award category for the 2026 GamesIndustry.biz Best Places To Work Awards UK: - 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 - 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)