How it works

Recognising outstanding work should be simple. The Inspiring Women in Local Government Awards, hosted by Local Government Chronicle, celebrate the individuals, teams, councils and partners making a real difference across the sector. Whether you're putting forward a colleague, your team, or yourself, the process is quick, straightforward and designed to showcase the incredible impact being made in local government.

Make a nomination
Nominate a colleague, a friend or even yourself. Nominations are open for five weeks, so don’t miss your chance to recognise outstanding achievement.
Entries open
All nominees are invited to submit their entry, and direct entries are also welcome during this stage. 
Judging
Entries are assessed by our distinguished judging panel, made up of senior leaders from across local government.
Shortlist announced
Our finalist are revealed, and tables for the awards ceremony go on sale. Book early to secure your place.
Awards ceremony
Join us in London for a spectacular evening as we celebrate excellence and announce this year’s winners. We look forward to seeing you there!

FAQs

Hopefully you'll find an answer to your question below. If not, please contact Madiha Sabet at Madiha.Sabet@emap.com

The nomination process is designed to be very quick, taking only two minutes. At this initial stage, you do not need to provide forms, essays, or evidence; you simply share who the nominee is and a couple of sentences explaining why they stand out.

The awards are open to officers, elected members, teams, councils, and partners throughout the UK. You are welcome to nominate a colleague, someone you admire, or even yourself.

When you are filling out the nomination, you should identify the most appropriate categories for your nominee and can select up to three.

As 2026 marks the first year of these awards, nominations can be based on achievements from the past two years, specifically the period between 1 October 2024 and 1 October 2026.

Key dates


Nominations deadline

4 September 2026

Entry deadline

2 October 2026

Judging

12 October - 23 October 2026

Shortlist announcement

30 October 2026

Event date

2 December 2026