Shortlist announced for Scottish Public Service Awards 2026

Initiatives to improve school attendance, address the cost of living and highlight waits for mental health support are among those shortlisted for this year’s Scottish Public Service Awards.

Now in its 12th year, the SPSAs celebrate the often-unsung contribution made to Scotland’s civic society from within the civil service, Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, local government, health and social care sector, broader public sector and their partners within the third sector. 

Following deliberation by a panel of judges, entries have now been whittled down to a shortlist – with nominees across 10 categories. 

In the running for the Campaign of the Year award are the Scottish Government’s Parent Club School Attendance Campaign which took an empathetic approach to the issue of children missing school, the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ neurodevelopmental care campaign, and North Lanarkshire Council’s Working for Families initiative.

The awards will take place in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 9 December and will be hosted by journalist and TV presenter Emma Cameron.

Holyrood Communications runs the SPSAs in partnership with the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government. 

Inspired by the late Campbell Christie and his efforts to help reform Scotland’s public services, Holyrood Communications launched the awards in 2014 with the aim of recognising and rewarding best practice, teamwork, innovation, and clear leadership across Scotland’s diverse public services. 

The full shortlist is available below, and for more details on the event you can visit its dedicated webpage. 

The Campbell Christie Public Service Reform Award 

In association with Grant Thornton 

• Breaking Cycles, Building Futures: CashBack for Communities and the Power of Prevention, Scottish Government CashBack for Communities Team and operational delivery partner Inspiring Scotland 
• Clackmannanshire Family Wellbeing Partnership (FWP): From Christie to Clackmannanshire, Clackmannanshire Council, Family Wellbeing Partnership 
• CYPIC National Improving Writing Programme, Scottish Government, Education Scotland, Fife Council 

The Campaign of the Year Award 

• Parent Club School Attendance Campaign, Scottish Government 
• RCPsychiS neurodevelopmental care campaign, Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland 
• Working for Families, North Lanarkshire Council 

The Project and Programme Management Award 

• ANIA Pharmacogenetics National Programme, Centre for Sustainable Delivery – Innovation Team – NHS Golden Jubilee 
• Development of a Supply Chain Assurance Platform for the Scottish Public Sector, Scottish Government & Supply25 
• The Avenues Programme, Glasgow City Council 

The Collaboration Award 

• Common Ground Glasgow, Barnardo’s Scotland 
• D&A Prison Employability Academies, Dundee and Angus College 
• ILF Scotland Re-opening Project, Independent Living Fund Scotland 

The Leadership Award 

• Julie Stuart - Fund to Leave, Scottish Government – Directorate for Housing 
• Mehvish Ashraf, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde; Aspire Women's Network – Scottish Asian Business Chamber 
• Sadia Sikandar, Seham & Najma 

The Digital Public Services Award 

In association with Leidos 

• Roads Maintenance Programme, Dumfries & Galloway Council 
• The Practical Dementia Resources Project by The Care Inspectorate, Care Inspectorate 
• Workforce Mobility Project, Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region Deal + Scottish Borders Council + SEStran 

The Community Engagement Award 

In association with SGN 

• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire Council – Children’s Services 
• ILF Scotland Re-opening Project, Independent Living Fund Scotland 
• Scottish Chamber Orchestra's 5 year creative residency in Craigmillar, Scottish Chamber Orchestra 

The Voluntary Sector Partnership Award  

In association with SCVO 

• Disability Friendly Scotland, I Am Me Scotland in partnership with COPFS
• Peterhead Area Community Trust (PACT), Peterhead Area Community Trust
• The D&A Community Hub, Dundee and Angus College 

The Sustainability Award 

• Embedding Learning for Sustainability in Further Education: From Curriculum to Culture, Glasgow Kelvin College 
• Port Glasgow Community Hub, Inverclyde Council
• SIGN – Sustainability and Climate Principles for Healthcare, SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) 

The Policy into Practice Award 

• Free School Meal Expansion, Social Security Scotland, Scottish Government, Local Authorities, COSLA 
• Hospital Discharge, Inverclyde Council 
• Teeny Carers, South Ayrshire Council, South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership