The UK Best Places to Work Awards 2026 came about at the Royal Establishment in London on October 1, with particular awards going to Dink, Hangar 13, Jagex: The RuneScape Firm, NaturalMotion Video games, Uncommon, and Snap Finger Click on.
The awards ceremony came about after the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit, which was attended by 79 representatives from 41 firms, together with AAA, AA, and indie studios, in addition to consultancy companies, coaching suppliers, and academic institutes.
The primary Best Places to Work awards recognised a complete of 25 companies throughout three classes – small, mid-sized, and enormous firms – for his or her excellence in supporting workers. These awards are judged on the foundation of an worker survey (price 80% of the rating) and an organization survey (price 20%).
The Best Places to Work Awards 2026 was sponsored by Amiqus, Playground Video games, IO Interactive, Video games London, and Particular Impact.
“What makes these occasions particularly helpful is how nicely they complement one another,” stated Liz Prince MBE, Enterprise Supervisor at Amiqus. “The HR Summit creates area for trustworthy discussions, shared studying and new concepts, whereas the Best Places To Work Awards shine a highlight on the studios and companies which might be turning these concepts into motion. Bringing the trade collectively to each study from one another and rejoice success helps elevate requirements for everybody, and we’re proud to play an element in that.”
“We’re proud to help GI.Biz in recognising the UK’s finest mid-sized Video Sport Studios,” stated Paul Evans, Director of HR & Recruitment at Playground Video games. “These will not be solely groups which might be creating sensible video games, however studios who’re additionally setting the customary for what an incredible place to work seems like in our trade”.
The winner of this yr’s G Into Gaming award was Jo Haslam, at present Design Director at Snap Finger Click on following a protracted profession at Mediatonic, Relentless and the BBC. Liz Prince MBE offered the award, describing Haslam as “one of these uncommon individuals who leads with each empathy and motion in excellent unison,” and “an inspiring girl and a pure chief.” Snap Finger Click on additionally left with each a Best Places to Work Award and this yr’s Variety Award.
Uncommon as soon as once more took the Environmental Award, sponsored by Video games London, whereas Middlesborough indie Dink received the Schooling Award, offered by IO Interactive Chief Improvement Officer Veronique Lallier.
Here is the full record of winners:
Small firm winners
- Fireshine Video games
- Vigorous
- MLC Studio
- Playstack
- Silent Video games
- Snap Finger Click on
- Stellar Leisure Software program
- Swipe Proper
- Tanglewood Video games
- Uplift Video games
Mid-sized firm winners (offered by Playground Video games)
- Behaviour Interactive UK
- Electrical Sq.
- Expression Video games
- Fenris Creations
- Hangar 13
- HundredStar Video games
- Kinetic Video games
- Maverick Video games
- Uncommon
- Studio Gobo
- Wushu Studios
Massive firm winners
- Frontier Developments
- Jagex: The RuneScape Firm
- Playground Video games
- TT Video games
G Into Gaming Award (offered by Amiqus)
- Jo Haslam, Snap Finger Click on
Company Social Duty Award (Introduced by Particular Impact)
- Jagex: The Runescape Firm (winner)
- NaturalMotion Video games
- Playground Video games
- Rocksteady Studios
- Wushu Studios
Variety Award
- Maverick Video games
- NaturalMotion Video games
- Uncommon
- Snap Finger Click on (winner)
Schooling Award (Introduced by IO Interactive)
- Dink (winner)
- Electrical Sq.
- Jagex: The Runescape Firm
- Rocksteady Studios
- Two Level Studios
Environmental Award (Introduced by Video games London)
- NaturalMotion Video games
- Playground Video games
- Uncommon (winner)
- Rocksteady Studios
Well being and Wellbeing Award
- Behaviour Interactive UK
- Hangar 13 (winner)
- NaturalMotion Video games
- Uncommon
- Rocksteady Studios
Coaching and Improvement Award
- Behaviour Interactive UK
- Jagex: The Runescape Firm
- NaturalMotion Video games (winner)
- Playground Video games
HR Hero Award
- Yvonne Dawes, Frontier Developments
- Tuoya Joe, HundredStar Video games
- Gary Martin, Jagex: The Runescape Firm
- Carmen Martino, Playstack
- Anna Stone, Playground Video games
- Leah Wilson, IO Interactive (winner)