The iNetwork Innovation Awards are back and bigger than ever! Since 2014, these awards have shone a spotlight on the creativity, collaboration, and excellence that drive transformation across local public services and their partners. Each year, we come together to celebrate the people and projects that go above and beyond to deliver better, smarter, and more value-driven services for our communities.
This year’s Awards Dinner and Ceremony will take place on Thursday 26th March 2026 at the Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel in Manchester, and nominations are officially open! This is your chance to showcase the incredible work happening in your organisation, benchmark your achievements against best practice, and gain recognition from peers and sector leaders.
Why Enter?
Submitting a nomination is more than just entering an award it is an opportunity to:
- Highlight the innovative work that sets your organisation apart.
- Celebrate the dedication of your teams and boost morale.
- Share best practice and inspire others across the sector.
- Gain recognition from a respected panel of judges who bring expertise from across local government, health, housing, and beyond.
Meet Our Judges
We are thrilled to announce our confirmed panel of judges for the 2025/26 Innovation Awards. These experts bring a wealth of experience and insight to the evaluation process, ensuring that every nomination is assessed fairly and thoughtfully.
Here’s who will be reviewing your submissions:
- Transforming & Innovating Public Services Award: Chris Jennings (Trafford Council), Gemma Emmett (City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council), Chris Woodhouse (Bury Council) and Chris Hart (Bolton Council)
- Connected Procurement & Commissioning Award: Nichola Cooke (STAR Procurement), Bryan Simmons (Wigan Council) and Lucy Hamilton (Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council)
- Effective Information Sharing & Security Award: Graham Jordan (Gateshead Council), Heather Toomey (Information Commissioner’s Office) and Matt Smith (Information Security for London)
- iStandUK Award: Paul Davidson (iStandUK), Georgina Maratheftis (techUK) and Mark Williams (Local Government Association)
- Partner Excellence Award: Jon Learoyd (North Yorkshire Council), Rahna Riley (Rochdale Borough Council) and Adrian Byrtus (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government)
- iNetwork Champion Award: Shelley Heckman, Billy Smith, Sarah Day (iNetwork)
- Most Creative Video Award: Michelle Kern, Mevish Khalid, Karys Thompson (iNetwork)
These judges represent a diverse mix of perspectives and expertise, ensuring that the awards truly reflect innovation and excellence across the sector.
We are thrilled to offer six exciting award categories this year, including our brand-new iNetwork Champion Award, celebrating outstanding individual excellence and leadership within the iNetwork community
How to Nominate
Nominations are open now and will close in January 2026. Entering is simple visit our Innovation Awards page to explore the categories, read the full criteria, and submit your project online.