Civic Office of the Year 2026: Time to tell your story
The National Association of Civic Officers has proudly promoted the Civic Office of the Year Award since 2003, recognising the dedication, professionalism and creativity of civic teams across the country. Over the years, the award has celebrated councils of every size, from major city councils to small town councils supported by just one part-time civic officer.
Civic offices work incredibly hard throughout the year, often behind the scenes, supporting Mayors and Chairmen, councils and local communities. The NACO Civic Office of the Year Award offers a valuable opportunity to shine a light on that work, celebrate your achievements and share the story of your team’s contribution to civic life.
Preparing an award submission can feel daunting, but with some forward planning, a clear structure and strong examples, the process can be made much more manageable. Examples of recent winning entries are on our website here Winning Nominations - National Association of Civic Officers
Before you begin writing, take time to develop a clear and concise idea for your entry. Think about what makes your civic office distinctive and how your work reflects the ethos, values and priorities set out in your council’s corporate plan.
A compelling submission should tell a strong story. It should explain not only what your team has done, but why it matters, who has benefited and what impact your work has had for the Mayor or Chairman, the council and the wider community.
Entries should be written with clarity and precision. Submissions must be no more than ten pages and should be submitted electronically. Use of hyperlinks for supporting evidence such as media stories is permitted and remember that a picture can paint a thousand words. Please note that entries exceeding the ten-page limit will not be judged.
Civic offices are encouraged to begin gathering evidence, testimonials and supporting material as early as possible to give their entry the best chance of success.
Judges will consider each nomination against the following criteria:
Quality and Innovation
The quality and innovation of the service provided to the Mayor or Chairman.
The quality and innovation of the service provided to the council.
The quality and innovation of the service provided to the community.
Promotion of the Office of Mayor or Chairman
How effectively the office has been promoted within the council and/or the wider community.
Value
How resources have been used to best effect, demonstrating value, impact and good practice.
Applicants are encouraged to use accurate information, clear examples and evidence of outcomes. Strong entries are often concise, creative and well presented, showing both the practical achievements of the civic office and the pride taken in delivering excellent civic service.
Submissions should be sent electronically to Pat Seager at [email protected]
The deadline for submissions is Friday 18 December 2026 and the presentation will be made at the Training Day in March 2027.
Good luck to everyone preparing a submission. I look forward to reading the many worthy entries in January 2027 and celebrating the outstanding work taking place across civic offices.
Pat Seager
Vice Chairman of NACO & Chair of Judging Panel
Read more here on how NACO recognises excellence in civic service