The staff Christmas party is one of the highlights of the year: a chance to come together, unwind, and celebrate collective achievements before the festive break. Beyond the food, music and dance floor, one of the most memorable features of any Christmas event can be the awards ceremony. Handing out light-hearted and meaningful awards is a fantastic way to recognise effort, boost morale, and inject fun into the evening.
But like any good party element, awards need forethought. Leave it until the week before, and you risk scrambling for categories, running out of time to collect nominations, or worse – forgetting entirely. Plan early, and you’ll not only create a smoother, more polished event but also build anticipation among your team.
Here are some award ideas to consider, along with tips on why early preparation makes all the difference.
Classic Recognition Awards
These are the cornerstone of any workplace celebration:
- Employee of the Year – recognising consistent hard work, positivity, and results.
- Team of the Year – for collaboration and outstanding group achievements.
- Rising Star – perfect for newer staff members who’ve made a big impact.
By planning ahead, you can design a fair process – for example, setting up a simple nomination form well in advance and giving staff time to vote. Early preparation ensures that the winners truly reflect team consensus and not last-minute favouritism.
Fun and Light-hearted Awards
Not every accolade needs to be serious. Humorous categories can make the evening more relaxed:
- Best Brew Maker – for the colleague who always puts the kettle on.
- Desk Décor Champion – for the most festive or creative workstation.
- Office DJ – for the person who always has a playlist ready.
- Punctuality Prize – awarded (ironically or not!) to the earliest riser.
These awards take a little thought to get right. If you start early, you can gather suggestions discreetly from staff, making sure the jokes land well and avoid anything that could cause embarrassment.
Peer-Voted Awards
Peer recognition can be powerful, as it allows colleagues to celebrate one another directly. Categories might include:
- Most Supportive Colleague
- Always Smiling Award
- Problem Solver of the Year
To make this work, you’ll need to set up a nomination system weeks in advance – whether it’s an online survey, ballot box in the staffroom, or a quick digital form. By the time the party rolls around, you’ll have genuine input from the team, adding more meaning to each award.
Creative and Bespoke Awards
Every workplace has its quirks, so think about creating unique categories tailored to your team’s culture:
- Zoom Master – for the colleague who’s always on point during virtual meetings.
- Snack Stash Champion – for the one whose drawer is never without biscuits.
- DIY Hero – for the staff member who can fix almost anything in the office.
These work best when they’re carefully thought through in advance. You’ll have time to make custom certificates, engrave trophies, or even order novelty items that fit the award.
The Importance of Preparing Early
Why is early planning so essential?
- Organisation – You’ll have time to set up nomination processes, tally votes, and arrange for trophies, certificates or prizes to be ready.
- Excitement – Sharing award categories weeks before the event builds anticipation and conversation within the team.
- Personalisation – Starting early gives you room to tailor awards to your company culture, rather than relying on generic ideas.
- Professionalism – A smoothly run award ceremony makes the whole party feel more polished and memorable.
Final Thoughts
The awards segment of a staff Christmas party can be the perfect balance of recognition and humour, celebrating the people who make the business thrive. But like the menu, the venue and the entertainment, awards benefit from forward planning.
Start brainstorming categories now, set up an easy way for staff to nominate their colleagues, and allow yourself enough time to order prizes or certificates. By the time December rolls around, you’ll have an engaging, well-organised awards ceremony that your team will talk about long after the decorations have been packed away.
