On Thursday 26th March, we celebrated the iNetwork Innovation Awards 2025/26 with a grand dinner and ceremony hosted at the Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert hotel. During the opening speech we invited the youth choir from Tameside Music Service for a truly beautiful perfomance, whose voices added a special and uplifting moment to the evening.
In addition, this year we launched a new award category, the iNetwork Champion Award. This new award category celebrated those individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the iNetwork partnership. Recognising those who actively promote iNetwork and iStandUK’s programmes of work to support shared insights, learning and best practice. All iNetwork Champions, Network Leadership Group Members, and Executive Board Members were eligible for automatic nomination in this category. This was introduced alongside the following awards:
– iStandUK Award (for Data sharing)
– Connected Procurement & Commissioning Award
– Effective Information Sharing & Security Award
– Transforming & Innovating Public Services Award
– Partnership Excellence Award
– Most Creative Video Award
– Outstanding Contribution Award
iStandUK Award
The first category of the night was for the iStandUK Award. This award recognised projects that demonstrate innovation and achievement in the effective use of data and information standards to improve services, to enable information transparency and/or to enable common understanding of a key issue. The award was presented by Paul Davidson, iStandUK, & Mark Peterson, North Yorkshire Council. The winner of this award was: Greater Manchester Combined Authority & Data to Insight.
Connected Procurement & Commissioning (CPC) Award
The next award category was the Connected Procurement & Commissioning (CPC) award recognising successes in public procurement and commissioning. In particular initiatives that have used innovative and collaborative procurement or commissioning practices to tackle social outcomes that are important to the public sector, delivered savings and efficiencies and generally supported the improvement of public service organisations and the communities which they serve. This award is sponsored by YPO and was presented by Nichola Cooke, STAR Procurement and Andrea Smith, YPO. The winner of the CPC category was: Rochdale Borough Council
Effective Information Sharing & Security (EISS) Award
The Effective Information Sharing & Security (EISS) Award recognised projects that facilitate the secure storage, sharing, and/or use of sensitive information to deliver more efficient and effective services for users whilst ensuring that personal information is protected. The award was presented by Billy Smith, iNetwork and Alan Boardman, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS FT. The winner of the EISS category was: Greater Manchester Combined Authority & Data to Insight.
Transforming & Innovating Public Services (TIPS) Award
The fourth category was for the Transforming & Innovating Public Services (TIPS) Award. This award recognise excellence in the transformation of public services and teams/organisations that have successfully implemented change for people and places. The winning project demonstrated evidence of improved outcomes through innovative citizen focused solutions in the areas of data, technology and/or culture change. This award was presented by Rahna Riley, Rochdale Borough Council and Chris Woodhouse, Bury Council. The winner of the TIPS award category was: Wigan Council
Partnership Excellence Award
We then moved on to the Partner Excellence Award. This award recognises outstanding performance from partner organisations. The award celebrates innovation, collaboration, efficiency and going the extra mile in partnership working. The award was presented by Emily Jones, Kent Connects. The winner was: Our Future Coast
iNetwork Champion Award
This year’s newly introduced category had 15 finalists who have all been outstanding in their dedication to iNetwork. The award was presented by iNetwork Chair, Alison McKenzie-Folan OBE and the winner was Yunus Mayat, City of Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council.
Outstanding Contribution Award
Next up we presented the most anticipated award of the evening, the Outstanding Contribution Award was announced. It recognises the outstanding contribution of the iNetwork member organisation that has done the most to promote learning and sharing of innovation and best practice. The award was presented by Shelley Heckan, iNetwork and the winners were: Manchester City Council!
Most Creative Video Award
Finally, this year we did something a little different, inviting everyone in the room to take part in the judging by live-voting for their favourite video of the night – the Most Creative Video Award. All shortlisted finalists who attended on the night submitted fantastic projects this year and alongside this were required to submit a short video on their project. View all of this year’s shortlisted finalists.
All shortlisted finalists were then automatically entered into this category. This award recognised the originality and ingenuity to create inspired, fun and/or impactful video content. The award was presented by the Compere Chris Clarkson and the winners were: City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
The evening closed with a prize raffle and some remarks from the iNetwork Executive Chair, Alison McKenzie-Folan OBE, who thanked all those that have supported iNetwork and to all the judges who have given up their time to help and support the Innovation Awards 2025/26. You can view the winners page on our iNetwork Innovation Awards website here and view all the pictures from the night in our gallery.