SSF UK is delighted to reveal the full list of categories for the Future Vision Awards 2026, celebrating the outstanding individuals, teams, and shared service functions that drive excellence, innovation, and positive impact across our membership community.
The Future Vision Awards remain one of the most meaningful moments in the SSF UK calendar — an opportunity to recognise the people who bring shared services to life through transformation, collaboration, resilience, wellbeing, leadership, and continuous improvement. Every nomination tells a story, and every story reflects the strength, passion, and commitment within our community.
As we prepare for this year’s celebration at Emirates Old Trafford on 11 November 2026, we are proud to announce the 11 award categories now open for nominations:
🏆 COMMUNITY AWARD
This award recognises an individual or team who, either through their work or extra-curricular activities, has introduced, developed or contributed to a sense of community within their workplace, the shared services industry or the community in which their business operates.
🏆 LEADERSHIP AWARD
This award celebrates a leader who has shown exceptional commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture by demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities, leading by example, supporting and coaching others to reach their potential. This leader inspires others through their behaviours, actions, initiatives, and dedication to energise their teams to achieve their goals and ambitions.
🏆 EVOLUTION AWARD
This award recognises an individual or team who continue to boldly pave a new way in their shared service centre, driving organisational growth and success. This can be through various projects, fostering career development, creating new innovations or disrupting established norms. They are not afraid to step outside their comfort zone to achieve great things and push the boundaries and exemplify excellence in action.
🏆 RESILIENCE REBOOTED (conference theme)
This award celebrates an individual or team who exemplifies modern resilience. It highlights those who not only withstand challenge but transform it through adaptability, courage and forward‑thinking innovation. Nominees will have turned uncertainty into opportunity, driving meaningful progress within their organisation.
In addition to demonstrating stability and strength through periods of change, nominees will also have played a vital role in nurturing wellbeing, supporting others and creating environments where people feel equipped, confident and able to thrive. This award recognises those who rebuild, reimagine and rise and who help their teams do the same.
🏆 SHARED SERVICE SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
This award recognises a team that has embedded sustainability at the heart of their shared service operations, demonstrating meaningful environmental responsibility, positive social impact and strong, ethical governance. They will be able to showcase initiatives that have delivered real, measurable change, from reducing environmental footprint and improving resource efficiency, to advancing inclusion, wellbeing and community value. They will also demonstrate innovative thinking and a long‑term commitment to sustainable improvement, highlighting how their work is inspiring progress across the wider shared services community.
🏆 SHARED SERVICE CENTRE OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award recognises a shared service centre which is making an impact within their organisation. Their journey to date reflects where their actions and achievements, challenges and opportunities build towards making a difference. Their story not only stands to inspire others in the forum but demonstrates the true value successful shared services centres deliver to their organisation
🏆 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award recognises a team that has delivered service excellence from their AP function and has made significant contributions to their shared service organisation this year. They have made a positive impact through outstanding project delivery and a strong team spirit. This can be demonstrated through project outcomes, initiatives or enablement’s which streamline processes that create efficient and effective outcomes which ultimately creates insight and value for their organisation
🏆 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award recognises a team that has delivered service excellence from their AR function and has made significant contributions to their shared service organisation this year. They have made a positive impact through outstanding project delivery and a strong team spirit. This can be demonstrated through project outcomes, initiatives or enablement’s which streamline processes that create efficient and effective outcomes which ultimately creates insight and value for their organisation
🏆 PAYROLL TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award recognises a team that has delivered service excellence from their payroll function and has made significant contributions to their shared service organisation this year. They have made a positive impact through outstanding project delivery and a strong team spirit. This can be demonstrated through projects outcomes, initiatives or enablement’s which streamline processes that create efficient and effective outcomes which ultimately creates insight and value for their organisation
🏆 CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award recognises and acknowledges the pivotal role that customer service plays in shaping reputation, success, and overall customer satisfaction from building collaborative relationships. It emphasises the importance of delivering exceptional customer experiences and highlights a team who consistently go the extra mile to ensure customers feel valued and heard.
🏆 SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE AWARD
This award honours an exceptional employee who exemplifies excellence, dedication, and positivity in every facet of their role. Consistently going above and beyond, this individual inspires and uplifts colleagues through unwavering commitment and infectious enthusiasm. They set a benchmark not only in performance but through behaviours in cultivating a supportive, motivating environment for all. A true role model, their actions and attitude leave a lasting, meaningful impact on the team.
The Future Vision Awards shine a spotlight on the people who embody the very best of shared services — those who innovate, support, lead, problem‑solve, and elevate others every day. From operational teams to inspiring individuals, these categories reflect the full breadth of talent and achievement across SSF UK membership organisations.
This is your opportunity to recognise colleagues who deserve to be celebrated.
