UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 crowned the year’s standout employers for their people-first cultures and strong workplace practices that set benchmarks across industries. Held at London’s Royal Institution last week, the ceremony highlighted 23 firms across small, mid-sized, and large categories, underscoring the value of transparent leadership and employee development within the UK workplace awards 2025 landscape, while inviting leaders to share strategies for inclusive growth. Industry coverage, including GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025, underscored how staff recognition, continuous learning, and collaborative teams are translating into higher retention, stronger customer satisfaction, and measurable business impact across digital and traditional sectors. Special honours went to studios and teams for diversity, CSR, health and wellbeing, and training and development, signaling that the most successful organisations judge success by people outcomes as well as profit, with clear metrics for engagement, morale, and career progression. For readers researching benchmarks in modern talent management, this year’s winners offer practical examples of best practices, culture-building initiatives, and scalable programs that organisations can adapt to their own contexts, cultures, and growth ambitions.
Viewed through an alternative lens, the awards point to a broader movement: recognition programs for workplace excellence that celebrate culture, leadership, and the wellbeing of teams. These honours illustrate how organisations invest in people, performance, and purpose, signals often captured by terms like employer accolades, staff engagement metrics, and culture-driven growth. In practical terms, the event serves as a benchmark for how UK employers harness talent experience initiatives and strategic people development to attract, retain, and inspire top performers.
UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025: Ceremony Highlights and Winners
The UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 took place at the Royal Institution in London last week, recognising 23 firms across small, mid-sized and large company categories for excellence in staff support. The ceremony is now available to view online, offering a clear snapshot of the UK’s top workplaces in 2025 and a benchmark for organisation-wide staff engagement.
Sponsored by Amiqus, Games London, ICO Partners, Lighthouse Games and Playground Games, the awards are being shared widely with audiences online and via GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025 coverage, including a full video on YouTube. This accessibility helps highlight the best places to work UK 2025 to a broader audience of employers, employees and industry observers.
What the Winners List Reveals About UK Workplace Rewards 2025
The winners list underscores a strong emphasis on people-first HR practices, employee engagement and sustainable growth, reinforcing the UK workplace awards 2025 as a barometer for how organisations support staff across sizes and sectors. The distribution across small, mid-sized and large firms points to a shared commitment to learning, development and recognition.
From indie studios to established developers, the spectrum of winners signals a growing focus on inclusive cultures, flexible work, and meaningful benefits. This alignment with employee experience awards UK 2025 themes is echoed in the broader analysis provided by GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025 coverage.
Small Company Winners Spotlight at the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025
Small company winners included Diva, Fireshine Games, ForthStar, ICO Partners, Indigo Pearl, Mastered, MLC Studio, Nosebleed Interactive, Sweet Justice, Sound, Swipe Right, Tanglewood Games and Uplift Games, illustrating how nimble teams can punch above their weight by prioritising culture, mentorship and clear career paths.
The achievements of these small firms align with the employee experience awards UK 2025 ethos, demonstrating that strong people practices and opportunities for growth are accessible across the UK’s smaller studios. Their success also reinforces the value of visible recognition within the GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025 ecosystem.
Mid-sized Company Winners Spotlight and Notable Mentions
Mid-sized winners include Behaviour Interactive, Dovetail Games, Expression Games, Lighthouse Games, Maverick Games, NaturalMotion Games, Playstack, Rocksteady Studio, Gobo and Wushu Studios, highlighting how mid-sized teams combine creative output with robust people practices.
Their recognitions reflect leadership development, collaborative cultures and effective management of growth, all of which are celebrated within the UK workplace awards 2025 framework and reinforced by the ongoing coverage from GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025.
Large Company Winners and the G Into Gaming Award Recipients
In the large company category, Playground Games features prominently alongside special recognitions such as the G Into Gaming Award to Alison Lacy (Radical Forge) and several sector honours, including Diversity Award, CSR Award, Education Award, and Training and Development Award recipients.
The breadth of honours among big studios demonstrates a mature approach to culture, inclusion, learning and community impact, aligning with the aspirations of best places to work UK 2025 and reflecting the coverage seen in GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025.
Employee Experience Awards UK 2025: Priorities for People and Culture
Employee experience awards UK 2025 are reflected in the way winners prioritise staff welfare, development opportunities and recognition. The ceremonies highlight practical investments in training, feedback mechanisms and wellbeing programmes that drive engagement and retention.
Across organisations of all sizes, the emphasis on transparent career progression and supportive leadership mirrors the core values of the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 and is a central talking point in the GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025 coverage.
G Into Gaming Award Spotlight: Alison Lacy and Radical Forge
The G Into Gaming Award awarded to Alison Lacy showcases leadership and contribution within the gaming sector, spotlighting radical collaboration and industry impact that resonates with the broader awards narrative.
This honour sits alongside a strong line-up of employee experience awards UK 2025 themes and reinforces how the GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025 coverage recognises standout leadership in building inclusive, creative workplaces.
CSR and Education: Social Impact and Learning in UK Workplace Awards 2025
CSR Award recognitions go to organisations including Behaviour Interactive, Playground Games, NaturalMotion, Rocksteady and Tanglewood Games, highlighting the growing role of social responsibility in workplace excellence.
Education Award recipients—Observer Interactive, Rare, NaturalMotion, Side Studio, Gobo and Tanglewood Games among others—emphasise ongoing learning, mentorship and skill development as core elements of a top employer in the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 framework.
Environmental and Health Wellbeing: Holistic Recognition in 2025 Awards
Environmental Award recognitions for Rare, NaturalMotion, Behaviour Interactive, MLC Studio and Fireshine Games showcase a strong commitment to sustainability within the workplace culture.
Health and Wellbeing Award honours for Wushu Studios, Rare, Behaviour Interactive, Futur Lab and NaturalMotion reaffirm that staff welfare remains central to the best places to work UK 2025 and to the GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025 discourse.
Coverage, Access and YouTube: How to Watch the 2025 Awards
Readers can watch the full Awards coverage on YouTube, with GamesIndustry.biz providing in-depth analysis of the ceremony and its implications for the industry.
The GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025 coverage offers context on how selections reflect broader trends in UK workplace awards 2025, helping employers benchmark their own practices against the leading organisations cited in the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025.
Sponsorship and Venue: The Royal Institution Experience and Industry Support
The ceremony was sponsored by Amiqus, Games London, ICO Partners, Lighthouse Games and Playground Games, underscoring how sponsorships support recognition of top workplaces in 2025.
The Royal Institution venue provided a formal stage for discussions on staff development, diversity and recognition, situating the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 within a prestigious tradition of industry celebration and accessibility through coverage by GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025.
What the 2025 Awards Mean for the UK Tech and Gaming Workforce Going Forward
The awards signal a growing prioritisation of employee experience, wellbeing and professional growth as a competitive advantage in the UK tech and gaming sectors.
As talent competition intensifies, organisations may increasingly use these recognitions to attract and retain top talent, shaping recruitment strategies and workplace culture in the UK workplace awards 2025 landscape and reinforcing the relevance of the GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025 coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 and who were the winners?
The UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 recognised 23 firms across small, mid-sized and large categories for excellence in supporting staff. Small-category winners included Diva, Fireshine Games, ForthStar, ICO Partners, Indigo Pearl, Mastered, MLC Studio, Nosebleed Interactive, Sweet Justice, Sound, Swipe Right, PR, Tanglewood Games and Uplift Games. Mid-sized winners included Behaviour Interactive, Dovetail Games, Expression Games, Lighthouse Games, Maverick Games, NaturalMotion Games, Playstack, Rocksteady Studio, Gobo and Wushu Studios. Large-company winners included Playground Games, with special recognitions such as the G Into Gaming Award to Alison Lacy (Radical Forge) and awards for Diversity, CSR, Education & Training, Environmental and Health & Wellbeing across several winners. The full ceremony is available to view online via YouTube in the GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025 channel.
In the context of UK workplace awards 2025, what does the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 celebrate about employee experience?
The UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 aligns with the aims of employee experience awards UK 2025 by recognising organisations that invest in staff welfare, development, diversity and wellbeing across UK firms.
Where can I watch the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 ceremony?
The ceremony is available to view online. Watch the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 on YouTube in the GamesIndustry.biz awards 2025 channel.
Which firms won the mid-sized category in the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025?
Mid-sized winners at the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 included Behaviour Interactive, Dovetail Games, Expression Games, Lighthouse Games, Maverick Games, NaturalMotion Games, Playstack, Rocksteady Studio, Gobo and Wushu Studios.
What notable recognitions were given to large companies in the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025?
Large-company winners included Playground Games, with notable recognitions such as the G Into Gaming Award (Alison Lacy, Radical Forge) and awards for Diversity, CSR, Education, Training & Development, Environmental, and Health & Wellbeing awarded to multiple companies including Rare, NaturalMotion, Maverick Games, Rocksteady and Wushu Studios.
Who presented key awards at the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 and who received the G Into Gaming Award?
The G Into Gaming Award was presented by Amiqus and went to Alison Lacy for Radical Forge. The UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 featured presentations from partners such as Lighthouse Games and Playground Games during the event.
Which organisations sponsored the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025?
Sponsors included Amiqus, Games London, ICO Partners, Lighthouse Games and Playground Games for the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025.
How can UK employers use the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 results to enhance employee experience?
UK employers can use the results to benchmark priorities such as staff development, training, diversity, CSR and health and wellbeing, aligning their people strategy with best-practice winners of the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025.
What trends does the UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 reveal about the UK workplace awards scene?
The UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 highlights a continued emphasis on employee experience, development, diversity, CSR and wellbeing across small, mid-sized and large firms, with winners sharing common focus areas in supporting staff.
| Aspect | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Event | UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025, held at the Royal Institution in London; ceremony now viewable online. |
| Publication date | News published Oct. 10, 2025 by Lewis Packwood, Features Editor |
| Categories & Winners | Recognised 23 firms across three categories: Small, Mid-sized and Large. Small winners include Diva, Fireshine Games, ForthStar, ICO Partners, Indigo Pearl, Mastered, MLC Studio, Nosebleed Interactive, Sweet Justice, Sound, Swipe Right, PR, Tanglewood Games, Uplift Games. Mid-sized winners include Behaviour Interactive, Dovetail Games, Expression Games, Lighthouse Games, Maverick Games, NaturalMotion Games, Playstack, Rocksteady Studio, Gobo, Wushu Studios. Large winners include Playground Games. (Special awards and recipients listed separately.) |
| Special awards | G Into Gaming Award — Alison Lacy (Radical Forge); Diversity Award — Playground Games, NaturalMotion, Maverick Games (winner); Corporate Social Responsibility Award — Behaviour Interactive (winner), Playground Games, NaturalMotion, Rocksteady, Tanglewood Games; Education Award — Observer Interactive (winner), Rare, NaturalMotion, Side Studio, Gobo, Tanglewood Games; Training and Development Award — Rare, NaturalMotion (winner), Studio Gobo, Tanglewood Games, Fireshine Games; Environmental Award — Rare (winner), NaturalMotion, Behaviour Interactive, MLC Studio, Fireshine Games; Health and Wellbeing Award — Wushu Studios (winner), Rare, Behaviour Interactive, Futur Lab, NaturalMotion. |
| Sponsors | Amiqus; Games London; ICO Partners; Lighthouse Games; Playground Games |
| Viewing & Watch | Full ceremony available to view online; Watch on YouTube |
| Source | GamesIndustry.biz coverage |
Summary
UK Best Places to Work Awards 2025 highlighted a broad cross-section of the industry, recognising excellence in staff support across small, mid-sized and large organisations. The awards celebrate best practice in people-first workplaces and provide insight into how firms attract, develop and retain talent. For UK businesses aiming to improve workplace culture, these awards offer credible benchmarks and inspiration.
