COSLA is pleased to announce that The COSLA Excellence Awards, celebrating the very best of Scottish Local Government, are back for 2025!
This year's COSLA Excellence Awards represent a fantastic opportunity for councils and their partners to recognise the great work, talent and innovation across Local Government. The COSLA Excellence Awards prizegiving ceremony for 2025 will take place on Thursday, 13th November at the Fairmont, St Andrews, as part of the COSLA’s Annual Conference, and all Excellence Awards finalists teams will be invited along.
COSLA President, Councillor Shona Morrison, said:
“I am delighted to be launching this year’s Excellence Awards – the awards that celebrate the very makeup of our councils - wonderful, talented and innovative people who care about improving lives locally. It’s a privilege to be Chair of the awards this year – the Excellence Awards are always a highlight of my calendar as COSLA President.”
“To all my Local Government colleagues in Scotland, I’d encourage you to look at this as a real opportunity champion your best people and teams on a national stage. The Excellence Awards recognise the very best of Scottish Local Government, and we know that this often means the unsung heroes in our communities who make lives better every day.
“Applications open on Tuesday 6th of May 2025 – so don’t delay, get your application in by Friday 4th of July to help us celebrate your people as the very best of Scottish Local Government!”
Further information for Councils:
Opening / closing dates:
Applications will open on Tuesday 6th May.
Applications will close on Friday 4th July.
Council teams can submit applications across 5 categories:
- Category 1: Leading Innovation
- Category 2: Improving in partnership
- Category 3: Tackling inequalities and improving health
- Category 4: Strengthening communities and local democracy
- Category 5: Building towards a just transition
In addition, there are 4 special categories in which applicants from across the 5 main categories will have a further chance to win an award by our team of judges from COSLA’s senior leadership and across the public, private and third sector.
You can find out more about the categories for this year's awards here: About the Awards | COSLA
We'll email all councils on the opening date with the link to an online application form, and will share the link on our website, social media and in the weekly EMB.
A word document version will also be made available.
The deadline for submission of entries will be 5.00pm on Thursday 4th July 2025.
Find out more: Excellence Awards | COSLA