There are five categories in which you can nominate a person, project or team for a COSLA Excellence Award.
Category 1: Leading Innovation
Category 1: Leading Innovation is all about recognising teams and projects that have solved a local problem in a forward-thinking way. Perhaps they have used technology, developed skillsets or engaged creativity to approach an issue with new insight. As well as demonstrating impressive innovation, winners in this category will likely demonstrate how they have harnessed the unique insight Councils have into the needs of local people. The judges will hope to see forward-thinking, replicable solutions where there's a clear potential benefit to wider Scottish Local Government.
Category 2: Improving In Partnership
Category 2: Improving In Partnership is all about demonstrating improvement that has benefited from strong partnership working - whether that's between teams, Councils, or Councils working in partnership with organisations from the wider public, private or third sectors. Winners in this category will demonstrate how their team has worked positively and collaboratively to improve outcomes for local people. The judges will be looking for insight into how positive and collaborative partnership working has been developed, and a clear understanding of how this positively impacted the outcomes of the project.
Category 3: Tackling Inequalities & Improving Health
Category 3: Tackling Inequalities & Improving Health is all about recognising our Local Authority-led projects and services which work to improve the health and wellbeing of local people, especially those who are most vulnerable to health inequalities. Winners in this category will demonstrate clear positive outcomes in health and wellbeing. As with other categories, the judges will be keen to see creative and innovative projects and teams who are making replicable, forward-thinking changes, addressing key challenges in health and social care.
Category 4: Strengthening Communities & Local Democracy
Category 4: Strengthening Communities & Local Democracy is all about supporting the people in our communities to be part of local decision-making and local change. Winners in this category will demonstrate how their project or team is supporting, engaging and encouraging local people to participate locally in their community, with the democratic process, or with activities which contribute to the wellbeing of people in their area. Judges will be looking for teams and projects that seek to engage people from different walks of life in the community, and especially groups which are often underrepresented.
Category 5: Building Towards A Just Transition
Category 5: Building Towards A Just Transition is all about projects and teams who are taking action towards a fairer, greener future, and contributing locally to the Just Transition to a Net Zero Economy. Winners will not only demonstrate how they are innovating to reduce carbon emissions and protect the natural environment, but also how they are ensuring that this transition is fair for all in the community. The judges will be looking to understand how your project will have a sustainable impact while supporting wider community wellbeing.
In addition, there are a further four awards, for which winners are nominated by the judges from the shortlisted applications submitted for each category. These are:
The David Kennedy Excellent People Award
Named in memory of our Head of Communications, David Kennedy, this special award will recognise the exceptional people who are at the heart of local government excellence. A finalist team who has been nominated in one of the five original categories will be selected, who have made an outstanding impact while rising to the challenges of day-to-day service delivery.
The Best Team Award
This coveted accolade is awarded in recognition of projects that demonstrate outstanding all round team performance or ground breaking partnership working.
The COSLA Chairperson's Award
Selected from our shortlisted applications, the winner will demonstrate achievements supporting people in the community that have been made in exceptional circumstances or that are beyond the specific award categories.
The Delivering Excellence Award
Awarded in recognition of public sector excellence for projects that have demonstrated particular achievements, often out with the specific criteria of the main award categories.
Entries are judged by a panel of experienced assessors with expertise from across Scottish Local Government.
To ensure that our judges are able to make the most informed decision, the judging process involves three stages:
- Assessor teams from across Scotland evaluate each submission and decide on ten to be long leeted for each category.
- COSLA judges consider the long leet and decide on three applicants to short leet.
- Short leeted applicants are invited to a session with the judging panel. One overall winner is chosen per category.
The 2025 awards ceremony is expected to take place on Thursday, 13th of November at The Fairmont, St Andrews.
All awards finalist teams will receive some free tickets to attend the awards ceremony.
More details will be shared on our website and social media channels as soon as possible.
Applications are now OPEN!
Apply online here: https://bit.ly/COSLAExcellence25
Applications close at 5pm on Friday 4th July 2025.
If you require a Word document template / accessible application, please contact christine@cosla.gov.uk.