A civil servant who has delivered mindfulness sessions for more than 1,500 officials across government and the Home Office’s asylum transformation programme are among 29 nominees shortlisted for the 2024 Civil Service Awards.
Ben Bilefield started Zen with Ben, an informal weekly mindfulness session for his then-Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy team, in September 2021. His sessions – which have reached officials in more than 25 government departments and public bodies – have been described as “friendly”, “invaluable”, “transformative” and “essential”.
The asylum transformation programme has two chances at winning an award as it is on the shortlist for both “best use of data, science, and technology” and “best programme”. The programme cleared most of the legacy backlog in asylum cases by December 2023 and achieved its target of tripling caseworker productivity levels.
This year, Civil Service Awards judges received a record 2,116 nominations across the 11 categories. Teams, officials and programmes in 15 departments and public bodies have been shortlisted, with the Department for Work and Pensions up for the most gongs – five.
For the “rising star” and “cabinet secretary’s outstanding leader” awards, only one official has been shortlisted so far for each, with more to be added at a later date.
Department for Business and Trade permanent secretary Gareth Davies, who is this year’s awards champion, said: “It’s been great to champion the Civil Service Awards and read so many inspiring stories about how we have delivered for ministers and citizens over the last year.”
Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 10 December.
The full list of shortlisted teams, civil servants and programmes
Excellence in Delivery Award, sponsored by Baringa
Border Force Operations – Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories Crisis Response (Home Office)
Fraud Policy Unit Team (Home Office)
White Mail Vulnerability Solution (Department for Work and Pensions)
Developing and Supporting Award
Ben Bilefield – Zen with Ben (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Civil Service Mandarin Network Committee (Cabinet Office)
Rebecca (Bee) Durrant (DWP)
Diversity and Inclusion Award, sponsored by Indeed
Government Social Research Degree Apprenticeship (HM Treasury)
HMRC Women in Tech Network (HM Revenue & Customs)
Nigel Epton (DWP)
Best Use of Data, Science, and Technology Award
National Economic Crime Centre – Data Fusion Pilot (National Crime Agency)
Prioritising Asylum Customers’ Experience – Asylum Transformation Programme (Home Office)
Scottish Government Design System Team (Scottish Government)
Creative Solutions Award, sponsored by PA Consulting
Geospatial Commission: NUAR One-team (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
SCA NINO Team (HMRC)
Suffolk supported families (DWP)
Evaluation and Analysis Award
Early Years Data and Analysis Team – Understanding barriers for working parents: where are childcare deserts and oases? (Ofsted)
Global Dependencies Tool (Department of Health and Social Care)
Serious and Organised Crime Coordination Centre (HM Prison and Probation Service)
Collaboration Award, sponsored by Baringa
Afghan Relocations Islamabad Team (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Help to Save (HMRC)
Scottish 4G Infill programme (Scottish Government)
Delivery for Citizens Award, sponsored by Mastek
Consular Teams from British Embassies in Seoul, Tokyo and Jakarta (FCDO)
DWP East Scotland Operational Delivery Group for Partnership Working (DWP)
Help Gran Stop Spam (Information Commissioner’s Office)
Programme of the Year Award
Asylum Transformation Programme (Home Office)
HMP Fosse Way Team (HMPPS)
State Pension Underpayments Programme Management Team (DWP)
Rising Star Award, sponsored by Newton Europe
Faye McCarthy (HMRC)
(More shortlist nominees will be announced soon)
Cabinet Secretary’s Outstanding Leader Award
Kevin Clark (HMPPS)
(More shortlist nominees will be announced soon)
Click here for more details of those who have made the shortlist