THE PUBLIC SECTOR COUNTER FRAUD AWARDS 2026

This award celebrates individuals who have achieved a significant impact in a short space of time, championing the values of their organisation and the wider Counter Fraud community of being courageous, challenging, objective and collaborative.

The Best Apprentice or Newcomer Award seeks to recognise apprentices or new recruits into the Counter Fraud sector who have made impressive progress in their work to date and show huge potential to go further. To enter, they must be either undertaking an apprenticeship at any level, or joined their department and are new to the Counter Fraud sector from 2024.

We are looking for:

•  A rising star who has demonstrated both potential to success and substantial achievement in a short space of time;

• Nominees who have attempted something outside their comfort zone, or successfully delivered new approaches across their department.

This award provides the opportunity to recognise valuable contributions and highlight an individual who is having an early influence on development, operational practice and impact, helping to shape Counter Fraud.

This award recognises trailblazing teams or departments that have put diversity and inclusion at the heart of their culture with exemplary results. These are teams who have created inclusive cultures that truly represent the public we all serve.

We are looking for:

• Future thinking teams who have identified obstacles holding back talented individuals from underrepresented groups. They will have demonstrated how they initiated and led on actions to remove barriers, improve the working experience, engagement levels and enable talented employees from underrepresented groups to flourish in their working environment.

• Passion for equality; turning awareness into action and championing diversity and inclusion throughout their team;

• Nominees who have worked to create an environment where individuals can be their authentic selves and have a voice in their teams by incorporating Diversity and Inclusion values and behaviours in a way that works . Results showcase a positive impact on team/departmental culture to leave a lasting legacy, benchmarking a standard for others to follow.

To enter, they must have made a significant contribution to a positive diversity and inclusion agenda, making the team/department a great place to work that is representative of the public it serves.

This award honours an exceptional individual who showcases outstanding performance over a substantial period. Furthermore, this award acknowledges a pioneer who has had a significant impact in driving improvements to combat fraud within the public sector.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Demonstrate key distinguishing strengths in driving performance

• Ability to detect, prevent or investigate fraud that has contributed to the nominee’s ability to excel

• Lead by example, the nominee is a role model influencing in the field of fraud prevention, inspiring a positive change

• Builds effective relationships with key stakeholders, which have harnessed protection of public resources and served communities

• Adds value with her contributions

• Overall star quality, encapsulating her exceptional attributes and impact.

The winner will be a remarkable individual who not only showcases remarkable competence in her role but also demonstrates a strong commitment to preventing fraud in the public sector. Her achievements will stand as a testament to her outstanding performance and the positive influence she has had on her organisation and the broader community.

This award is open to all members of the GCFP who have demonstrated the values in the Profession’s Code of Conduct: courage, collaborative, challenging or objective.

With 8,000 members from over 85 organisations working in Investigation, Intelligence and Fraud Risk Assessment, the GCFP has a real impact on fraud against the public sector.

Nominees should be:

• Someone who, over the last year, has gone above and beyond what you would expect. They could have been: part of an investigation into a challenging case; analysing intelligence to make firm recommendations; or embedding new fraud risk assessment processes; or someone who has been a driving force in promoting/ developing the Profession;

• Pioneers who may have developed a new way of doing something. It may be a new products, processes, or innovative approaches, harnessing new technology that has been embraced, resulting in either better systems, improved outcomes or long-term achievements.

• They will have demonstrated the core values and behaviours of their organisation.

All nominees will be checked against the current profession register to ensure they are eligible for this award.

This year there will be two winners in this category - one from Central Government; and one from other parts of the public sector

This award aims to celebrate initiatives that have been developed, implemented, and subsequently had a positive impact in preventing fraud activity. 

We are looking for:

• Nominees who have successfully prevented fraud through identifying potential threats and implementing new measures which have prevented fraud against the public sector;

• Someone who can demonstrate the benefits of developing prevention methods to achieve benchmarking results.

• An innovative approach to fraud prevention or have utilised existing tools in a sustainable manner which continue to prevent fraud

The award will be for identifying and addressing potential frauds and being able to provide definitive evidence of the impact of the intervention on the prevention of fraud.

This award recognises local excellence. Despite the challenging circumstances they continue to face , Local Authorities at the front line across the nation have continued to work hard to combat fraud within their regions.

We are looking for:

• Nominees that have demonstrated excellence in tackling fraud.

• Extraordinary efforts to protect the public from fraudulent conduct.

The local excellence award recognises not only them, but also the large number of people whose innovative and singular determination to combat fraud has prevented public funds being stolen by fraudsters.

This peer-nominated award recognises an individual who has been at the forefront and has significantly contributed to making a visible difference to Counter Fraud during their career to date.

We are looking for:

• Individuals who you believe are innovators, passionate, influencers who are delivering real and positive change.

• Nominations from across the sector whether they have been active in influencing policy, driving improvements in process or delivering significant operational successes such as tackling insider fraud.

Nominees must demonstrate initiative, exemplary individual achievement and contribution in their work, showing outstanding performance in their job role.

For the individual of any grade who has demonstrated the skills of a natural leader who influence transformation, motivation and delivery.

We are looking for:

• Someone who inspires and motivates their colleagues, recognising their potential - giving them the confidence to deliver.

•  Those who are seen as a champion by their peers and colleagues;

• Nominees who take an inclusive, confident and engaging approach – involving colleagues, listening, respecting and acting on their feedback.

Strong evidence that the nominee’s leadership is linked to improved performance by their organisation. Whether leading a small project team or driving organisation-wide change, these leaders make things happen through their vision, integrity, and commitment to excellence.

Designed to acknowledge and celebrate remarkable initiatives from any sector of the NHS that have effectively addressed issues related to fraud prevention within the organisation. 

These initiatives may encompass reducing the incidence and impact of fraud, raising awareness, generating better intelligence for improved responses, enhancing customer service, and achieving efficiencies. The success of the initiative will be measured by its contribution to preventing, detecting, and responding to fraud effectively. 

We are looking for: 

• The nominee’s ability to capture engagement of the initiative role and its key benefits, illustrating how it has made a difference in the fight against fraud

•  The strategic approach employed, specific skills, and tactics that underpin the initiative’s exceptional performance

• Identification of the key factors that enable the initiative to excel in its objectives

• Compelling examples showcasing outstanding performance for stakeholders, demonstrating its significance and effectiveness

• Awareness of the tangible business benefits from the initiative and how these positive outcomes are sustained over time.

The winner of this award will exemplify innovation, dedication, and effectiveness in tackling fraud-related challenges within the NHS. Their initiative will serve as a shining example of how proactively addressing fraud not only benefits the organisation but also enhances the quality of healthcare services provided to the public.

This award celebrates teams who recognise the benefits of collaboration and have collaborated across the public and private sectors. Breaking down the challenges of siloed working - proving it’s better to work together.

This award seeks to identify and promote public/private engagements whose best practice, learning and approaches have brought better value for money for the taxpayer.

To enter the nominees must show a partnership between public and private entities which has delivered benefits in either financial terms or through new guidance, standards or best practice which could be used to benefit Counter Fraud colleagues across the board.

We are looking for:

• Nominees who have had a sustained a beneficial partnership between a private and a public entity;

• Delivered projects which have been innovative, financially beneficial or at greater pace thanks to the partnership with an external private partner.

This award recognises that complex fraud challenges require the best of both worlds and celebrates Public-Private Partnerships.

Exceptional results are achieved by exceptional teams working together with shared purpose and determination. Team work is pivotal to the success in the fight against economic crime.

We are looking for teams who have:

• Improved mitigating fraud practices within your organisation

• Fostered collaboration, acknowledging each team member's key skills and combining efforts to help tackle fraud. This could be a specific project or initiative such as tackling insider fraud or a string of successes over a set period of time.

• Overcome significant challenges by supporting each other, sharing knowledge, and maintaining focus even when facing complex cases or difficult circumstances.

The award recognises that behind every major fraud prevention success is a team of dedicated professionals who chose to work together and show how their teamwork has led to success and their consistent service to protect public resources