The Sylvia Tutt Award is a prestigious annual award offered by the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (WCCSA), one of the livery companies in the Financial Services Group (FSG) of City of London livery companies.
The award was set up to recognise the achievements of Sylvia Tutt, the first female Master of WCCSA and indeed the first female Master of any livery company in the 900 year history of Livery Companies in London. The award recognises her own passion for continuing professional development and the important recognition of governance professionals.
We hope the Award will help inspire the next generation of governance professionals and entries are now invited for the 2026 Sylvia Tutt Award.
Who is Eligible to enter for the Award?
Anyone currently studying or researching governance at Masters or above at a UK university or in the first 5 years of their governance career.
What does submission for the Award involve?
An application form to be completed in full and a 1000 word article, written for a general rather than academic audience.
The subject for the article for the 2026 award is:
AI, Values and Governance – AI is being used more and more in all contexts. In the pursuit of good governance, including references to your own business experiences, what do you see as the potential conflicts between using AI and upholding the values of an organisation and how would you safeguard those values?
What is the Award?
There will be one Achievement Award and if judged appropriate a small number of articles will be nominated for commended. The Award comprises:
£1000 to spend on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) related to your governance career. E.g. this might be to attend a Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (CGIUK&I) training course/s, attendance at the CGIUK&I Annual Conference or other relevant CPD identified by the winner (the course/s will be identified by the winner and payment will be made up to £1000 on their behalf by WCCSA directly to the course provider).
Attendance at a prestigious WCCSA event where the Award will be presented
Possible opportunity to speak at a future WCCSA event which may be in-person or virtually
Inclusion of the winning article in the WCCSA newsletter, the WCCSA website and WCCSA social media as appropriate. It may also be reflected in the CGIUK&I’s social media.
WCCSA Sylvia Tutt Award Certificate
PLUS if you are already qualified as a governance professional through the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (CGIUK&I)
the one-off fine (or fee) of £250 to become a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (WCCSA) and the first year’s quarterage (subs) waived. Thereafter from year 2, the annual quarterage will require to be paid by the winner themselves.
OR
If you are still studying
‘Affiliate’ status of WCCSA for one year to enable attendance at appropriate WCCSA events and £250 towards attending some WCCSA events in that year.
Sylvia Tutt Commended – if any articles are commended, the individual will receive
WCCSA Sylvia Tutt Award Commended Certificate
Possible inclusion of article in the WCCSA newsletter, the WCCSA website and possible reference in WCCSA social media.
Who will be on the Judging Panel?
The judging panel will comprise WCCSA liverymen and freemen plus one
representative from CGIUK&I. The judging panel’s decision will be final for sign-off
by the WCCSA Court.
What is the timescale for the Award?
10 March 2026 –
Deadline to receive applications electronically by email to education@wccsa.org.uk, stating clearly in the email subject line ‘Sylvia Tutt Award Submission’. All applications must be received by 1700hrs BST on 24 July 2026.
24 July 2026 –
Sylvia Tutt Award 2026 public launch at the WCCSA Annual Sylvia Tutt Memorial Lecture. Guidance, criteria and how to submit your entry are available on the WCCSA website.
7 Oct 2026
Presentation of certificate to the 2026 winner at the WCCSA annual installation dinner on 7 th October, which this year is due to be in the beautiful Painters’ Hall.
Those commended will receive Certificates by post.
By end Oct 2026
Announcement of winner and any commended individuals in the WCCSA newsletter and as appropriate on the WCCSA website and social media.
Points to note before submission
- The article must be your own work and signed off with integrity as such. We may seek validation from your university that you are currently a student or researcher in governance.
- All submissions must be received electronically by email no later than 1700hrs BST 24th July 2026.
- The judging panel decision will be final.
- The question posed and the wordcount all need to be reflected in the final article written and submitted. The article and a completed application form are required to be submitted for the entry to be considered.
- There will be no alternatives to the Award prize as outlined for either the winner or anyone commended.
- Data will be used only for the purposes of administering this award.
- If you have had no correspondence from us by the end of September you will know that on this occasion you have not won or been commended. There will be future years in which to apply again and we hope that the experience of writing the article and reflecting on your own values have been a helpful tool in your own studies and work.
- The criteria and requirements relate to the 2026 Sylvia Tutt Award only. If the Award is run again in future years criteria, governance subject area and other requirements may be reviewed.
- We know the work involved in such submissions and thank everyone for their commitment in submitting to the annual WCCSA Sylvia Tutt Award.
- We reserve the right to use the winning essay, in whole or partially, as appropriate in any other future materials produced by WCCSA.