We have been shortlisted in two categories at the 2026 MJ Awards, the national awards programme recognising excellence across local government.
Winning an MJ Award acknowledges the tremendous effort of those in local government dedicating themselves to supporting local communities, facing challenge after challenge, but never giving up in the face of adversity.
We have been nominated in the categories of Workforce Optimisation (which specifically acknowledges councils that have developed and engaged employees in a service to improve performance and delivery, making a positive impact on the experiences of residents) and Finance Team of the Year (which recognises a team’s impact on organisational performance, business partners and client groups).
Winners will be announced at the ceremony in London on Friday 19 June.
Nomination for Workforce Optimisation:
This is a joint nomination for our Children Services and People and Culture teams who have strongly collaborated over two years to stabilise and strengthen our social care teams.
A new People Strategy and tailored recruitment and retention plan sharply reduced reliance on temporary staff and created a sustainable pipeline of permanent social workers.
Improvements in leadership, induction, supervision and wellbeing have contributed to more consistent practice and better experiences for children and families.
Nomination for Finance Team of the Year:
This reflects a far‑reaching transformation of our financial management, driven by the replacement of our 30‑year‑old finance system. Delivered in just 18 months, the upgrade became the foundation for wider organisational change – strengthening governance, improving data transparency and reshaping our approach to financial stewardship.
The finance and public value team redesigned our chart of accounts, simplified financial structures and introduced new digital workspaces to give budget holders clearer, faster access to financial information.
A disciplined “adopt not adapt” approach ensured processes were modernised to reflect best practice. Collaboration was central to the programme’s success, with finance staff working closely alongside ICT and service teams across the organisation.
Despite major in‑year financial pressures, strengthened planning and interventions helped us close the year in balance and deliver our accounts on time with a clean audit opinion.
Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council, said:
“These shortlists reflect the relentless work of our teams to strengthen services for residents – improving the foundations of how we manage public money and putting children at the heart of our priorities.”
Councillor James Buczkowski, Cabinet Member for Finance, said:
“Public finance is about trust: trust in the numbers, trust in the advice, and trust that decisions serve communities’ long‑term interests. This team has shown that finance is a leadership discipline – investing in stronger systems, better information and honest conversations that protect services and rebuild confidence.”
Chief Executive Donna Manson added:
“This recognition is a real milestone in our improvement journey. It reflects the commitment, resilience and professionalism of our staff across the organisation. We have asked a great deal of our teams as we’ve modernised systems, strengthened practice and built a more stable workforce, and they have consistently stepped up. Being shortlisted for these awards shows how far we have come – and reinforces our determination to keep improving for the people of Devon.”
