The 2026 UK Best Places to Work Awards were staged at London’s historic Royal Institution on the 1st of October, culminating a day of industry celebration and reflection. The ceremony highlighted a select group of studios and companies that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their employees, with special recognitions awarded to Dink, Hangar 13, Jagex: The RuneScape Company, NaturalMotion Games, Rare, and Snap Finger Click. The awards event followed closely on the heels of the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit, a gathering that attracted 79 delegates representing 41 organisations across the gaming ecosystem. Attendees spanned the spectrum from AAA powerhouses and mid‑tier AA developers to indie studios, as well as a variety of consultancy firms, training providers, and academic institutions.
The summit provided a platform for candid conversations about talent acquisition, retention, wellbeing, and the evolving expectations of game‑industry professionals. At the heart of the Best Places to Work Awards were 25 companies recognised across three size‑based categories – small, mid‑size, and large – each lauded for their exemplary support of staff.
The judging methodology combined two distinct components: an employee‑focused survey that contributed 80 % of the final score, and a company‑level questionnaire accounting for the remaining 20 %. This balanced approach ensured that both the lived experiences of team members and the strategic policies of the organisations were taken into account. Sponsorship for the 2026 awards came from a diverse set of industry partners, including Amiqus, Playground Games, IO Interactive, Games London, and Special Effect.
Their involvement underscored a shared belief that recognising workplace excellence not only celebrates current achievements but also sets a benchmark for the broader sector. Liz Prince MBE, Business Manager at Amiqus, highlighted the synergy between the two events, stating: “What makes these events especially valuable is how well they complement each other. The HR Summit creates space for honest discussions, shared learning and new ideas, while 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.” Paul Evans, Director of HR & Recruitment at Playground Games, echoed this sentiment, noting: “We’re proud to support GI.Biz in recognising the UK’s best mid‑sized video game studios.
These are not only teams that are creating brilliant games, but studios who are also setting the standard for what a great place to work looks like in our industry.” Among the individual accolades, the G Into Gaming award was presented to Jo Haslam, now Design Director at Snap Finger Click after an impressive career that includes senior roles at Mediatonic, Relentless, and the BBC. Liz Prince MBE described Haslam as “one of those rare people who leads with both empathy and action in perfect unison,” praising her as “an inspiring woman and a natural leader.” Snap Finger Click also secured a Best Places to Work Award and the Diversity Award, reflecting its holistic approach to inclusion and employee wellbeing. Rare continued its environmental leadership by winning the Environmental Award, a category sponsored by Games London. Meanwhile, the education‑focused award was claimed by Middlesbrough‑based indie studio Dink, presented by IO Interactive’s Chief Development Officer Veronique Lallier, highlighting the importance of learning and development pathways within smaller teams.
The full roster of winners spanned a broad cross‑section of the industry: **Small‑Company Category** - Fireshine Games - Lively - MLC Studio - Playstack - Silent Games - Snap Finger Click - Stellar Entertainment Software - Swipe Right - Tanglewood Games - Uplift Games **Mid‑Size Category** - Behaviour Interactive UK - Electric Square - Expression Games - Fenris Creations - Hangar 13 (winner) - HundredStar Games - Kinetic Games - Maverick Games - Rare - Studio Gobo - Wushu Studios **Large‑Company Category** - Frontier Developments (winner) - Jagex: The RuneScape Company (winner) - Playground Games (winner) - TT Games **Special Recognitions** - Jo Haslam, Snap Finger Click (G Into Gaming award) - 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 (winner of Diversity Award) The awards not only celebrated the winners but also served as a barometer for industry trends. Over the past year, there has been a noticeable shift toward more transparent communication, flexible working arrangements, and robust mental‑health support. Companies that have invested in mentorship programmes, continuous learning opportunities, and clear pathways for career progression have risen to the top of the rankings. Moreover, the emphasis on diversity and environmental responsibility—evident in the dedicated awards for those categories—signals a broader cultural evolution within the gaming sector.
For those interested in a visual recap, a comprehensive photo gallery is available on the event page, capturing moments of celebration, acceptance speeches, and candid interactions among industry peers. The 2026 UK Best Places to Work Awards reaffirm the sector’s commitment to fostering workplaces where creativity can flourish alongside employee wellbeing. As the industry continues to grow and diversify, these recognitions set a clear standard: success is measured not only by the games released, but also by the quality of the environments that nurture the talent behind them.