The APSCo Awards for Excellence celebrate the most innovative and successful recruitment firms across the United Kingdom. Unlike other awards, every finalist goes through a face-to-face judging panel, made up of experts across business growth, finance, recruitment, diversity and marketing.
For recruitment firms, that matters. In a crowded market, credibility is hard to build and easy to lose. Being shortlisted - let alone winning - gives your firm a badge of quality you can take to clients, candidates and stakeholders. And we know the market has been tough, but growth isn’t the only measure of success, so don’t let a tough year stop you from entering.
The 2026 awards are open now across 13 categories, covering recruitment firms of all sizes. Barry Pactor didn't know what to expect when Inspiring Teaching entered the APSCo Awards for Excellence. Here's what he found:
"Even just filling out the application form really helped us to think about what we'd achieved in the past year - and also to really start thinking through some of the planning for the year ahead as well."
"The actual judging session, I have to say, was terrifying. It was a really strong panel who really, really grilled us."
“That said, it was worth it. We came away with some really interesting questions that we thought we'd done OK on, but actually we wanted to go and think a bit more about. The kind of feedback you don't usually get.”
"Getting the nomination through - being told that we'd been shortlisted - was just an enormous boost for us as a business, both internally and in terms of morale, but also the ability to market that out to our clients and candidates."
"It was actually one of our most opened e-shots ever."
"Finding out on the day at the awards itself that we won it - that went even further and has been brilliant to market off the back of. The awards day was actually also a really good networking event. We made some really interesting contacts, and I just thought the whole afternoon was really professional and very well run."
Barry's verdict:"Thanks to the APSCo committee and to the whole APSCo team for all their help - I would definitely recommend giving it a go. But not in our category!"
If Barry's experience sounds like something your firm could benefit from, now's the time to put yourself forward. The APSCo Awards for Excellence 2026 are open to all APSCo UK members. View the full list of categories and enter here by the 7th April. Take a look at the Guide to Success for top tips on your entries here.
Watch the full video below:
We look forward to seeing you at the Awards Ceremony this September!