Nominations Open for Geography in Government GiG Awards 2026

Guidance

Nominations open for Geography in Government (GiG) Awards 2026

The Government Geography Profession has opened nominations for its annual awards, which recognise and celebrate geographical work across the civil, crown and public sectors.

From: Government Geography Profession Published 23 March 2026 Get emails about this page Print this page To celebrate the geographical work across the civil, crown and public sector, the profession hosts the annual Geography in Government (GiG) Awards. These awards reflect the importance of geography and spatial thinking in the design and delivery of public policy and celebrates the successes of our members, who come from a diverse range of organisations.

Award Information

Nominations are now open and will close at 5pm on Friday 24 April 2026.

You must be a GGP member to submit a nomination. The nomination forms can be found at the links below.

Shortlisted nominees will be invited to the Geography in Government Awards ceremony, at which the winner of each category will be announced. The winners of each category will be reviewed by an external panel to identify the year’s overall winner. View information about last year’s winners.

Judging: The nominations will be judged by leaders in the profession, with the overall winners judged by senior representatives of the profession from beyond the public sector.

Criteria for nominations and judging: The awards are open to all civil, crown and public servants who are geographers within the Government Geography Profession at the time of nomination. If you are not already a member of then you can join here.

Each nomination will be considered against the award specific description as well as some of the following specific categories. The nomination form will give details of which specific criteria will be included.

Communication - how was communication used effectively in this work?

Inclusion - how has this work been inclusive? for example engaging the individual strengths, talents and experiences of teams and considering all groups of customers, service users, audiences or stakeholders in developing solutions.

Impact - has the approach or solution had the required impact on ways of working, driven forward research, new thinking or efficiencies?

Sustainability - how will the work leave a lasting legacy and how can it be replicated across the public sector?

Categories

There are 7 categories for nominations that showcase the breadth of the work of geography in the public sector. The categories are;

Making a difference

This award recognises projects, teams or individuals whose efforts support sustained ‘business as usual’ work. Using existing guidance policy and ways of working to produce products that exemplify the business and excel in several aspects - this could be a single product or a larger piece of work.

Examples

• Products that have received positive customer feedback
• Products that have an impact, make a difference, or make best use of available resources
• Individual/team who strives to provide the best service to customers
• Providing a consistent and continuous high level geospatial data service to a high number of customers. Receipt of positive customer feedback
• Developing and maintaining geospatial solutions, using sound geographic knowledge to ensure customers can access the right tools and the right data and support organisational objectives
• Development of standards and embedding best practice Innovation

This award recognises excellence by a team or individual in advancing geography through the introduction and/or implementation of innovative methods.

Examples

• Applying systems thinking, problem solving and analysis to improve results by placing robust evidence, research and geospatial data at the heart of the decision–making process
• Challenging the status quo, trying something new, adapting and refining when things have not worked well, and learning in the application of geographic science
• Embed new ways of working
• Pilot or implement the use of new technology to open up access to new data sources or drive forward efficiencies. Knowledge driven policy making

This award recognises the application of geographic knowledge and skills to develop excellent domestic or international policy-making in action and have an impact

Examples

• Developing or using a sound evidence base, ensuring geography forms part a variety of disciplines and sources, and applying robust analysis to understand the data and inform decision-making in support of policy and organisational objectives
• Understanding the role of place in the development and design of policy development, delivery and user need as priorities from the outset, using new and innovative approaches, as appropriate.
• Capturing knowledge, research and data from a variety of disciplines and sources, collaborating with geo partners inside and outside government where appropriate, and using this information to influence policy development to deliver better outcomes
• Using geographic insights to improve the way the public sector operates. Communication

This award is in collaboration with the British Cartographic Society. The award recognises excellence in communication of geographic content.

This award recognises excellence in communication of geographic content.

Examples

• Undertaking high quality geo-visualisation which enables the user to comprehend the analysis or gain new insight about the area covered
• Making use of innovative methods of communicating and disseminating analysis
• presenting analysis clearly and in a way that is meaningful to the audience
• demonstrating that the needs of different accessibility requirements have been considered when determining how the analysis should be communicated
• Examples may include Internal / External Blog, Podcast, webinar, training material Local Impact

This award is in collaboration with GeoPlace. This award recognises the breadth and depth of geographical work undertaken at a local or regional level.

This award recognises the breadth and depth of geographical work undertaken at a local or regional level.

Examples

• Local authority evidence-based decision making
• Delivery of customer services through geospatial solutions
• Analysis and insight leading to improved delivery of services
• Using geographic insights to improve the way the public sector operates.
• Place based impact
• Supporting local delivery Leading by example

This award recognises a team or individual who has made a difference within their work area through the application of geography or through promoting geography in the past 12 months. This could include leadership.

Examples

• Championing geography within the public sector and the role geographers can play in the design and delivery of public policy;
• Promoting how geography can be applied across teams or operational units, ensuring that learning is captured and can be disseminated to others to help spread good practice;
• Supporting geographers either in your own organisation or across the public sector, growing the skill, capability and profession.
• Undertaking geographic related professional outreach to schools and universities to inspire the next generation of geographers and promote the range of opportunities in the public sector
• Evidence of the impact of work/initiative on promoting equality, diversity and inclusion
• individual or team who have delivered a specific project, initiative or demonstrated inclusive participation in their everyday behaviour that significantly contributes to the enhancement of equality, diversity and inclusion within Government Geography Rising Star

This award is in collaboration with the Association for Geographic Information

This award is to recognise someone in the first 5 years of their career as a geographer in government or public sector organisation, who has gone above and beyond what would be expected for someone of their experience or has championed the importance of applying a geographic approach.

Examples

• Contribution to the team or a project that demonstrates the nominee’s potential to excel in the geo sector;
• A time when expectations or objectives have been exceeded;
• A demonstration of ambition and passion for geography;
• A product, work ethic or attitudes that inspire others;
• Using opportunities to introduce or improve the use of geo in their area of work.

Nomination form links

Communication Category

Knowledge driven policy making Category

Leading by Example Category

Local Impact Category

Innovation Category

Making a difference Category

Rising Star Category

FAQ

Who is organising the Geography in Government (GiG) Awards?

The Government Geography Profession, sponsored by the Government Digital Service, organise the GiG awards.

How do I enter?

You can enter yourself or be nominated by a colleague. The person(s) nominated might be contacted if the nomination is shortlisted for due diligence purposes. You may enter as many unique entries as you wish, across all categories, however each application must be submitted separately. Please do not submit the same entry for multiple categories. You must submit the application(s) by the deadline for the current year’s awards.

Who can enter the GiG Awards?

Any civil, crown or public servant who is currently employed and is a member of the Government Geography Profession at the time of nomination. If you are not a member of the profession and are a civil, crown or public servant, you may register at our members website.

Do I have to tell the person I am nominating them?

We advise that you let anyone you are nominating know that you have done so at your own discretion. It is not compulsory to do so but it is usually best to inform them in advance so they are not caught off-guard if they are shortlisted. It’s also an opportunity to let them know what fantastic work they have done!

Do you have any examples of nominations which have been successful?

You can find out more about previous years’ winners on our blog page.

What time period should the work take place in?

Nominations must reflect work that has happened in the last 12 months, if a project is still ongoing it can be nominated if a significant milestone has been reached.

Can I submit maps/charts to provide further evidence?

We welcome maps or charts as supporting evidence. These can be submitted via the nomination form and/or the details given therein. However, we won’t take any further written evidence into account, all written evidence should be included within the nomination form word limit.

If you have any further questions please email us at communications@geography.gov.uk.

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Published 23 March 2026

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