Public Affairs Awards 2026 Categories

This category is aimed at identifying and celebrating the best use of social or digital media channels in support of a public affairs campaign in the UK. Entries may showcase the use of social channels, influencers, digital marketing, video, audio, broadcast, or other relevant communication tools. Details of the campaign, including outcomes achieved and approximate budget, should be included in the submission.

Some campaigns succeed because of the high level of collaboration between client and consultancy. This is a joint award to recognise the best campaign implemented by an in-house individual or team in conjunction with an external agency in the UK. Entries must be jointly submitted in the name of the consultancy and the client. Details of the campaign, including outcomes achieved and approximate budget, should be included in the submission.

This category is aimed at identifying and celebrating a campaign run by a consultancy displaying creativity, innovation, the ability to raise awareness and delivering meaningful results. A supportive statement from the client will carry a considerable weight in this category. Mention should be made of any other consultancy or third party who played an active role and contributed to the success of a campaign. Details of the campaign, including outcomes achieved and approximate budget, should be included in the submission.

This category is aimed at establishing the best campaign or programme run by a commercial enterprise in the UK. Details of the campaign, including outcomes achieved and approximate budget, should be included in the submission.

This campaign is aimed at identifying and celebrating a campaign run by an in-house team (solely), displaying creativity, innovation, the ability to raise awareness and delivering meaningful results. Details of the campaign, including outcomes achieved and approximate budget, should be included in the submission.

This category is aimed at establishing the best campaign in the field of local government planning in the UK. Details of the campaign, including outcomes achieved and approximate budget, should be included in the submission.

This category is aimed at establishing the best campaign or programme run by, or on behalf of, a trade, charitable, or voluntary body in the UK. Details of the campaign, including outcomes achieved and approximate budget, should be included in the submission. If there is a fundraising aspect to your entry, you must include an explanation of how the entry has contributed to the financial stability or fundraising objectives of the organisation.

This category recognises the efforts of a team for activity focused outside of London (beyond the M25 region. It celebrates an outstanding campaign geared towards influencing the Government in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or the English regions.

For the in-house public affairs team which has made an outstanding contribution towards achieving the objectives of their employer. Details of projects and campaigns undertaken, and outcomes achieved, should be included in the submission. As with all team categories, judges will mark your entry against the following criteria: team performance, staff, financial, and innovation.

This category is open to any consultancy of up to 10 staff. Judges will look for evidence of financial performance, staff and client retention/ acquisition, innovation, and implementation of creative ideas

This category is open to any consultancy of 11 – 25 staff. Judges will look for evidence of financial performance, staff and client retention/ acquisition, innovation, and implementation of creative ideas

This category is open to any consultancy of 26 staff or over. Judges will look for evidence of financial performance, staff and client retention/ acquisition, innovation, and implementation of creative ideas.

Judges will look for an individual (either consultancy or in-house) who has succeeded in making communications a strategic priority within their organisation, supporting or leading the organisation’s broader objectives. The individual will have shown outstanding performance, made a significant contribution to the industry and to their organisations. Nominations for this award can be made by the individual or a colleague and organisations can submit any number of entries. Entrants must include 500-word personal statement as part of their entry. This is included in the 1,000 word limit.

This category celebrates the achievements of a woman (either consultancy or in-house) who has demonstrated a pivotal role in the field of public affairs. The awardee will have a proven track record of success using communications to achieve strategic goals and will have made a significant contribution to their organisation and the industry as a whole. The Award recognises a woman whose exceptional efforts today are paving the way for the women of tomorrow. Nominations for this award can be made by the individual or a colleague, and organisations can submit any number of entries. Entrants must include 500-word personal statement as part of their entry. This is included in the 1,000 word limit.

This award gives recognition to an individual for their outstanding commitment to innovation and creating a more equitable and inclusive environment. The Award recognises outstanding achievements in an area of work that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and/or sustainability in the public affairs industry. Nominations for this award can be made by the individual or a colleague and organisations can submit any number of entries. Entrants must include 500-word personal statement as part of their entry. This is included in the 1,000 word limit.