Five government bodies have been commended for their “outstanding dedication to innovation and attracting strong fields for civil service roles”.
The organisations – Defence Equipment & Support, FCDO Services, the National Crime Agency, the Scottish Prison Service, and the Animal, Plant & Health Agency – have each been bestowed with the 2025-26 Commissioners’ Mark of Excellence.
The annual event, now in its fourth year, showcases the innovative initiatives that departments use to attract strong, diverse fields to the civil service.
This year, the award has been integrated directly into the Civil Service Commission’s audit process, requiring all departments achieve a minimum rating of "good" to meet the Mark of Excellence standard.
DE&S, the Ministry of Defence’s procurement arm, won for its pioneering response to the "AI-arms race" in recruitment, using neuroscientific psychometric tools and collaborative escape room assessments to focus on candidate potential rather than rehearsed narratives.
FCDO Services – a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-sponsored trading fund which provides secure services like logistics, construction and digital solutions – won for its “multidimensional” outreach strategy. The CSC said it used innovative tools such as social media advertising reels and sensory-based neuro-inclusive workshops to successfully engage over 14,000 students in STEM fields.
The NCA – which is set to be absorbed into a new National Police Service as part of reforms announced by the Home Office last year – won for its transformation of recruitment through the NCA Academy. The commission said it is prioritising transferable skills and inclusive hiring over traditional experience.
APHA, an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, won for its data-led approach to stabilising the workforce. This included using interactive geographic mapping to provide realistic job previews and implementing inclusive pilots like the advance release of interview questions to support neurodiverse candidates.
And the SPS won for its transition to a recruitment model that prioritises regional accessibility through "hub recruitment", and its diversification of middle management by opening roles to external candidates for the first time.
First civil service commissioner Baroness Gisela Stuart said: “The core purpose of the Commissioners’ Mark of Excellence – to showcase exemplary work and recognise departments demonstrating exceptional innovation and diversity in external recruitment – was perfectly demonstrated by these five winners. I congratulate them for their innovative approach to civil service recruitment, bringing in people who may not have previously considered a career in the civil service.”
All five winning organisations achieved a minimum audit score of "good" while also demonstrating “significant recruitment innovation”.
The winners are entitled to display the Mark of Excellence logo on all of their recruitment advertisements for one year.