L-R: Sam Curran, Head of Function at Forensic Services; Lauren Macleod, Audit, Risk and Assurance Officer at SPA; Eleanor Gaw, Project Lead at SPA; John McNellis, Head of Finance, Audit, Risk and Information Management at SPA.

The Policing Best Value Team, received the award for finance team/group of 2026 at the Public Finance Live Scotland Awards 2026, hosted at the Exchange in Glasgow on Tuesday 15 September 2026.

The award recognises the achievements of a team in delivering excellence and clear benefits across the organisations, through working together efficiently and effectively.

The Policing Best Value Team was made up of staff working across SPA Corporate, Forensic Services and Police Scotland. They worked collaboratively to transform how Scottish policing demonstrates Best Value, creating a lasting framework for continuous improvement, accountability and effective stewardship of public resources. 

The initiative began in the Authority's corporate team three years ago, led by John McNellis and his Audit, Risk and Assurance team to develop a Best Value framework to support organisational self-assessment, continuous improvement and stronger governance. The practical self-evaluation model enables leaders to identify strengths, address improvement opportunities and demonstrate compliance with Best Value principles.

The approach was successfully tested during an inspection of the Authority by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of the Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) and Audit Scotland which published earlier this year.   

Recognising the wider opportunity for Scottish policing, the team worked collaboratively with colleagues from Police Scotland and Forensic Services to adapt and implement the framework across the policing system. 

John McNellis, the Authority's Head of Finance, Audit and Risk, Lauren Macleod, Audit, Risk and Assurance Officer and Eleanor Gaw, Project Lead, attended the ceremony alongside Sam Curran, Head of Function at Forensic Services. Police Scotland representatives James Barron and Mark McCabe were unable to attend the ceremony. 

Congratulations to the whole team!