The Saint David Awards (Welsh: Gwobrau Dewi Sant) are an annual government awards scheme which recognizes exceptional achievements by Welsh citizens within Wales, the UK and globally. They are the highest accolades that the Welsh Government confers on its civilians.
Previous winners include Cerys Matthews, Michael Sheen, Tanni Grey-Thompson, and Bryn Terfel.
History On the 27 February 2013 the Welsh Conservatives opened a debate surrounding Welsh Cultural Identity in the Senedd, proposing that Wales should introduce a Welsh specific Honours System. Following a Senedd debate, Carwyn Jones announced that the St David Awards would be established, with the first event to be held in 2014. It was later announced that the awards would be held in the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and broadcast by S4C.
Aims and categories
The Awards aim to "reflect and promote the aspirations of Wales and its citizens to be a modern, vibrant country, with a growing reputation as a confident and clever nation valuing innovation, community spirit, and above all its people".
Currently, there are nine award categories: Bravery Citizenship Culture Enterprise Innovation & Technology International Sport Young Person Award First Ministers Special Award
Selection process
The Welsh public are invited to nominate candidates, from which a shortlist of three finalists in each category is selected by a specially commissioned advisory committee. The award winners are decided by the First Minister.
The process was criticised by the Welsh Conservatives and Welsh Liberal Democrats in 2021, after two Welsh Labour candidates were shortlisted. There were concerns from both parties that Mark Drakeford would favour nominees from his own party.
Award winners
2014 Source: Bravery: Karin Williams Citizenship: Yaina Samuels Culture: Cerys Matthews Enterprise: Robin Jones Innovation & Technology: Lyn Evans International: Bryn Terfel Sport: Tanni Grey-Thompson Young Person Award: Jade Jones First Ministers Special Award: The Community of Machynlleth
2015 Source: Bravery: Derek Pusey, Leonard Walters and Clive Williams Citizenship: Rhian Burke Culture: Siân Phillips Enterprise: Mario Kreft Innovation & Technology: Peter Brewin and William Crawford International: Michael Sheen Sport: Geraint Thomas Young Person Award: Richard Davies First Ministers Special Award: NATO Newport 2014
2016 Source: Bravery: Peter Fuller Citizenship: Janet Williams Culture: Owen Sheers Enterprise: Dominic Griffiths Innovation & Technology: Geraint Davies International: Julie Gardner Sport: Chris Coleman Young Person Award: Carwyn Williams First Ministers Special Award: Nigel Owens
2017 Source: Bravery: Billy Connor and Gary Slack Citizenship: Cairn Newton-Evans Culture: Jen Wilson Enterprise: David Banner Innovation & Technology: Meena Upadhyaya International: David Nott Sport: Wales national football team Young Person Award: Savannah Lloyd First Ministers Special Award: Karl Jenkins and Mererid Hopwood
2018 Source: Bravery: Laura Matthews Citizenship: Mair Elliott Culture: David Pountney Enterprise: William Watkins, Radnor Hills Innovation & Technology: IQE International: The Phoenix Project Sport: Aled Siôn Davies Young Person Award: Jasmine Williams First Ministers Special Award: Gerald Williams
2019 Source: Bravery: Andrew Niinemae Citizenship: Cardiff Street Pastors Culture: Hijinx Theatre Company Enterprise: Hilltop Honey Innovation & Technology: Cerebra Innovation Centre International: Liam Rahman Sport: Geraint Thomas Young Person Award: Bethan Owen First Ministers Special Award: Deian Hopkin 2020 Source: Bravery: Joel Snarr and Daniel Nicholson Community spirit: Wasem Said Culture: Russell T Davies Business: Moneypenny Innovation & Technology: David Worsley Humanitarian: Rachel Williams Sport: Alun Wyn Jones Young Person Award: Tyler Ford First Ministers Special Award: Gareth Thomas 2021 Source: Bravery: John Rees, Lisa Way and Ayette Bounouri Community spirit: Denbighshire Dial a Ride Critical worker: Cherry Tree Care Home Business: Little Inspirations Innovation, Science & Technology: SBRI/ Welsh Ambulance Service Trust Humanitarian: John Puzey Culture and sport: Delwyn Derrick Young Person Award: Molly Fenton – Love Your Period campaign First Ministers Special Award: Keshav Singhal
2022 Source: Bravery: Thomas Scourfield and Geraint Jenkins Community spirit: Siop Griffiths Critical (key) worker: Michelle Jones and Catherine Cooper Culture: Berwyn Rowlands Environment champion: Low Carbon Built Environment Group (Cardiff University) Business: Jordan Lea Innovation, Science & Technology: Luca Pagano, Graham Howe, Peter Charlton, John Hughes and Richard Morgan Sport: Hannah Mills Young Person Award: Daniel Lewis First Ministers Special Award: Urdd Gobaith Cymru
2023 Source: Bravery: Dylan Pritchard Evans and Hari Thomas Community spirit: South Wales Sponsorship for Ukraine Critical worker (key worker): The Harm Reduction Team at Huggard Culture: Unify project Environment champion: Andy Rowland Business: Câr y Môr Innovation, Science & Technology: CanSense Sport: Olivia Breen Young Person Award: Skye Neville First Ministers Special Award: Gillian Clarke
2024 Source: Bravery: Callum Smith Community spirit: Helen Hughes Critical worker (key worker): Therapy and Recovery Team at Brynawel Rehab Culture: Aloud Charity Environment champion: Fare Share Cymru Business: Case-UK Ltd Innovation, Science & Technology: Concrete Canvas Sport: Cheryl Foster Young Person Award: Lia Ellis Thomas First Ministers Special Award: Alan Bates (subpostmaster)
2025 Source: Bravery: Justin Biggs Community Champion: Paul Bromwell Public Services: Patrick Watts Culture: David Hurn Environment champion: Peter Stanley Business: Bad Wolf Ltd Innovation, Science & Technology: ImmunoServ Sport: Emma Finucane Volunteering: Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team Young Person Award: Dylan Buller First Ministers Special Award: Ruth Jones
2026 Source: Bravery: Liz Hopkin, Darrel Campbell, Fiona Elias Community Champion: Parent Learning Group Public Services: Tipswalo Day Culture: Max Boyce Environment champion: Cynrig Hatchery Business: de Novo Solutions Innovation, Science & Technology: Joanne Davies Sport: Jess Fishlock Volunteering: Brian Jones Young Person Award: Cian Evans First Ministers Special Award: Henry Engelhardt and Diane Briere de l’Isle Engelhardt
See also
Welsh Government List of Wales-related topics The UK Honours System
References