About Constructing Excellence Awards Programme

Each year the Constructing Excellence Awards are a celebration of everything the UK’s Built Environment has to be proud of.  Winners are selected through our regional awards programme to go forward to our national finals held every year in the autumn.

This year, our National Awards Ceremony will take place on Thursday 23rd November 2023, in London Marriott Grosvenor Square. 

These prestigious Awards provide a very special showcase of excellence in the built environment across England and Wales, bringing together the regional winners in each of the 16 categories to celebrate the very best of the best.

We bring together a panel of expert judges with significant proven experience in driving and implementing innovation and positive change across the sector. 

The best teams and organisations from all over the the country apply every year to get a chance to become one of the 100 Awards Finalists to represent their Region in the National Finals and make to the very top of only 16 National Winners! Are you one of them?

Take a look at our National Awards 2023- Sponsorship Brochure to find out about sponsoring the event.

If you’re interested, please get in touch at [email protected] 

How to enter

Entries are via our regional awards programme as follows (details will be continued to be updated regularly as regional entry lines are announced open).

Entry Forms for each category can be downloaded from the regional websites (see below).

 

Wales: Opening date 08/12/2022, Closing date 03/03/2023 at midday, Awards ceremony date 16/06/2023

Website: CE Wales Awards 2023 

 

North East: Opening date 09/12/2022, Closing date G4C 17/02/2023 CENE 03/03/2023,
Awards ceremony date G4C 28/04/2023, CENE 16/06/2023

Website: CENE Awards Entry 2023

G4C North East Awards 2023

 

London & South East: Opening date 23/11/2022, Closing date 21/02/2023, Awards ceremony date 29/06/2023

Website: CE London & South East Awards 2023

 

Norfolk: Opening date Now Open, Closing date 17/03/2023, Awards ceremony date 27/04/2023

Website: 2023 Awards | Norfolk Constructing Excellence Club

 

East of England (except Norfolk): Opening date Now Open, Closing date 31/05/2023

Website: Apply via [email protected]

 

South West: Opening date Now Open, Closing date 05/04/2023, Awards ceremony date 20/07/2023

Website: Awards- Constructing Excellence SW 2023

 

North West: Opening date Now Open, Closing date 29/03/2023, Awards ceremony date 06/07/2023

Website: North West Awards 2023

G4C North West Awards 2023

 

East Midlands: Opening date Now Open, Closing date 05/05/2023, Awards ceremony date 29/06/2023

Website: CE East Midlands Awards 2023

 

West Midlands: Opening date Now Open, Closing date 10/03/2023, Awards ceremony date 01/06/2023

Website: CE West Midlands Awards 2023

 

Yorkshire & Humber: Opening date 18/11/2022, Closing date 31/03/2023, Awards ceremony date 06/07/2023

Website: CE Yorkshire & Humber Awards 2023

G4C Yorkshire & Humber: 2023 Yorkshire & Humber G4C Awards

Project of the Year (Building & Civils Project of the Year)

 

Project of the Year delivers outstanding outcomes for all those involved in a construction project. It showcases the benefits achieved through the application of many of the principles described in the other award categories. Because of the diversity of potential projects, this category is split into two awards:  Building Project of the Year and Civils Project of the Year.

The winner is as likely to be an outstanding local project as a high-profile landmark, but whatever it is all parties will be proud of and inspired by it: the clients, designers, constructors and suppliers. To impress the judges enough to win this award your entry will evidence an outstanding project that:

1. Demonstrates great team working between the client and entire supply chain; employing collaborative working tools.
2. Was delivered before the programmed completion date, below the approved cost plan and to quality exceeding expectation whilst delivering the highest of health safety and wellbeing standards.
3. Achieved the lowest environmental impacts, particularly minimising carbon, during construction and its planned lifecycle.
4. Delivered outstanding customer satisfaction and may have also received praise from other stakeholders.
5. Demonstrates the highest levels of the application of best practice, innovation and technical achievement to overcome the project’s challenges.

Residential Project of the Year

 

What is a residential project? This could range from an individual dwelling, to larger housing developments including apartments and specialist housing such as supported housing, residential care and the like. This award recognises developments that provide a desirable and sustainable place to live. That demonstrate creative approaches from concept to delivery.

 

To impress the judges enough to win this award your entry will evidence an outstanding project that:

1. Demonstrates great team working between the client and entire supply chain; employing collaborative working tools.
2. Was delivered before the programmed completion date, below the approved cost plan and to quality exceeding expectation whilst delivering the highest of health safety and wellbeing standards.
3. Achieved the lowest environmental impacts, particularly minimising carbon, during construction and its planned lifecycle.
4. Delivered outstanding customer satisfaction and may have also received praise from other stakeholders.
5. Demonstrates the highest levels of the application of best practice, innovation and technical achievement to overcome the project’s challenges.

 Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)

 

Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are seen as a route to transforming how we deliver public works projects and create a more effective construction industry. MMC is a wide term covering a range of offsite manufacturing and onsite techniques, providing alternatives to traditional delivery with significant improvements in productivity, efficiency, and quality.  If MMC has been set as the goal and defines ‘what we are seeking’, then Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) is the process that describes ‘how it is done’.

A number of factors are convening to make MMC and DfMA a more attractive solution than ever before. It can deliver enhanced outcomes including:

• Supporting a green revolution including diving out waste and associated carbon and achieving net-zero targets.
• Support for a more Equitable industry and strengthen the foundational economy.
• Delivery of better quality assets and better outcomes.
• Driving sector innovation.
• Developing world-beating skills, techniques and products.
• Increases in the speed of project and programme delivery.
• Improved sector productivity and reduce capital cost.
• Increasing the predictability of employed capital.

A winning approach will demonstrate a number of the following attributes:

1. A systematic approach to the implementation of MMC solutions that builds on platform-based approaches driving towards repeatability and standardisation.
2. Drives out carbon and waste from the construction sector and enhances social outcomes.
3. Demonstrates the value of new and innovative approaches to drive better outcomes using manufacturing and digital technologies.
4. Tangible benefits delivered by using an MMC approach over and above traditional methods including value against time, cost (fiscal and environmental), quality.
5. Contributed to the commercial demands of the client and sustained the needs of the local community.
6. Provided a unique and innovative environment when benchmarked against other building solutions.
7. Delivered additional USP’s against traditional construction methods.
8. Supports development of the skills required for the future.
9. Demonstrates a construction technology that utilises fabrication of elements prior to instillation on site.
10. Enhances the image of the construction sector and its value for future generations.

  Client of the Year

 

Construction clients have an important role to play in transforming the way the industry operates.  How projects come to market has a significant impact on the ability of the construction industry to provide innovative, whole life value-for-money solutions. 

Judges are looking for a construction client that has been actively involved in enabling the construction programme and developed strategies for encouraging and rewarding excellence. A winning approach will demonstrate a number of the following attributes:

1. Clear and consistent leadership of the supply chain.
2. A commitment to procurement based on quality, value and collaboration not just price.
3. Real benefits for all parties, evidenced by objective measurement criteria such as KPIs.
4. Tools deployed to integrate the project team and the supply chain.
5. A positive impact on their organisation, the industry and the wider community and an approach which might be used elsewhere to support continuous improvement.

SME of the Year

 

SMEs are the backbone of the industry and are recognised by Constructing Excellence for their dominance of and contribution to the supply chain. According to the Office for National Statistics annual “Construction Statistics” although the number of UK construction companies has increased year on year since 2012, SMEs remain 99.9% of the companies annually. The part played by SMEs in innovation and product development is also recognised by BEIS in the Construction Playbook.

Judges are looking for an exemplary organisation, with 249 or less employees and with turnover less than the equivalent of €50 million. This award is not to recognise organisations who have achieved considerable commercial growth or excelled in just one aspect of the entry criteria. It is about outstanding organisations who have achieved business changes across the board to improve in all aspects below over the preceding year:

1. Evidence of growth through engaging with and developing best practice in construction and organisational management.
2. Investment made in employees, through training, development and setting organisational culture.
3. Action to improve their productivity and work smarter including harnessing digital technologies.
4. Supply chain engagement that adds value to the organisation’s contribution to projects, Clients or suppliers.
5. Evidence of setting and monitoring development and performance targets, e.g. KPIs, specific achievements, etc. with results as a means of charting progress with change and achievement of goals.

Digital

 

Digital Construction embraces BIM, GIS, Big Data and other evolving technological advancements.  Technology has transformed the world we live in and has potential to revolutionise the construction industry. This category rewards organisations, projects or initiatives that have adopted, advanced and achieved excellence in Digital Construction.

Judges will be looking for examples of how the adoption of collaborative digital processes has dramatically improved the planning, design, fabrication, construction and operation of built facilities or infrastructure:

Great examples of transformational digital construction will evidence:

1. Integrated and collaborative teams, with early engagement of the supply chain.
2. Sharing of information through common data environments and system integration.
3. Innovative tools, methods and processes that capture, manipulate and exploit data across the entire

project team and through the construction phase and into the in-use operational phase.

4. Evidence of improved performance and better outcomes compared to traditional methods through submission of objective measurement data.
5. Demonstrable benefits to stakeholders over the lifecycle of the asset.

G4C Future Leader

 

G4C is a driving force for industry change, through the development and connection of future industry leaders. The award is open to a person with less than ten years of experience in the construction and built environment sector (typically less than 35 years of age).

Judges are looking for the person that best demonstrates a positive impact on their peers, their organisation and the wider industry, against current G4C priority areas of people development, sustainability and innovation.

Our winner will have shown potential to become an exemplary future leader, evidenced by a number of the following attributes:

1. Being a leading thinker and champion for change.
2. Ability to positively impact the behaviour of others.
3. A collaborative approach to problem solving and delivery of outcomes.
4. Creativity and ability to think differently, generate ideas and see them through to implementation.
5. Ability to drive positive and sustained change for the benefit of their organisation, community and environment.

Innovation

 

Innovation is widely recognised as the critical factor for increased and sustained productivity and growth. It demonstrates an organisation’s confidence, capacity and appetite for improved performance and productivity gains.  Innovation is most effective as a holistic approach that identifies both demand and ideas and is most successful when supported by collaboration between customers and the supply chain.

Judges are looking for an organisation or project that has developed and applied the most innovative approach to overcoming one or more construction challenges.  Winners may have developed a demonstrably new and different technique or process or may have harnessed emerging or existing technologies to create new or improved products, tools or services leading to better built outcomes.

The exemplar winner will show judges how they have:

1. Defined the challenge, identified possible solutions and secured agreement from key stakeholders.
2. Focused their outcomes on constructor needs and user or occupier benefits, leading to more work on subsequent projects.
3. Been able to demonstrate improvements compared to previous or 3rd party performance through objective measurement data, such as KPIs.
4. Created a solution that can be used or applied elsewhere in their organisation or their industry sector.
5. Taken the lessons learned and the new best practice benchmark to the industry and shared them so others can benefit.

Integration & Collaborative Working

 

Collaborative working is central to the core values of Constructing Excellence and its drive for positive change in construction.  It is most likely to manifest in the delivery of specific projects, however those who can demonstrate a culture across a series or programme of projects show leadership in a sustained approach.  Integration of the supply chain, the client and end users will normally lead to a better outcome satisfying all stakeholders.

The judges will be looking for entries where collaborative working has delivered outstanding results and significant benefits for the whole supply chain/partnership involved.  Submissions will demonstrate a number of the following attributes:

1. Early involvement of the supply chain, client and end users – possibly underpinned by a soft landings approach.
2. Selection of supply chain on quality and value not lowest cost.
3. Common processes and tools to assist in collaborative working such as BIM and Lean.
4. Modern commercial arrangements and fair payment.
5. Evidence of improved results achieved through the collaborative approach and value engineering and evidenced by performance measures (KPIs).

People Development

 

People are our greatest asset and this award recognises organisations that appreciate and nurture their workforce to ensure they maximise the value of everyone’s contribution to the business. By creating inclusive workplaces which support people of all abilities through training initiatives, education, mentoring, support networks and innovative programmes, companies can demonstrate a significant impact on the future of their businesses and the wider construction industry.

Judges are looking for an organisation that is leading edge in the way they support and develop their existing team and attract new entrants into the industry. Exemplary people developers will be to able show judges how they:

1. Invest in training and reskilling or upskilling their workforce.
2. Encourage new talent and entrants, possibly working in collaboration with other organisations.
3. Encourage their employees and supply chain to be more aware of local communities, the environment and the image of the industry.
4. Ensure diversity and inclusive policies are central to development planning and business strategy.
5. Can evidence a development strategy with monitoring and measurement of achievement and effect.

Conservation & Regeneration

 

The preservation or rehabilitation of old or historic buildings and sites is often an important part of neighbourhood revitalisation, providing physical and psychological focus for the community and creating jobs and investment opportunities. Construction work that involves the conservation and regeneration of historic buildings requires great care and specialist skills and techniques.

Judges will be looking for excellent outcomes and high standards in the repair, re-use and revitalisation of heritage sites and buildings in the region.

Exemplary projects will be able to demonstrate a number of the following attributes:

1. Evidence of research and innovation to replace, repair and match traditional methods and materials encountered, together with the evaluation of alternative options.
2. Choice of appropriate procurement that reflects the risks in such work.
3. Application of well-considered and sympathetic technical solutions, both traditional and innovative.
4. Delivery of customer satisfying quality and enduring outcomes.
5. A clear commitment to the development of heritage skills and training opportunities to sustain heritage related works.

Net Zero

 

High environmental and climate performance in construction aims to meet present day needs for housing, working environments and infrastructure without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs in times to come. It seeks to limit impact on the natural environment and demonstrate whole life sustainability. It is most effective when organisational culture, high design quality, technical innovation and transferability are abundant.

Judges are looking for projects or organisations whose achievements, in relation to the legacy their work leaves, demonstrate strong environmental performance in terms of carbon and other Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, in waste and water efficiency and in sustainable materials over the life of a project (including its ultimate decommissioning).

Exemplary environmental and climate performance will be evidenced by some of the following:

1. Reduction in greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions through design and construction measures, leading to reductions both in the build and operational phases of assets and demonstrating progress towards net zero.
2. Use of sustainable materials and achievement of waste, materials and water efficiency performance during construction, through design and construction innovation.
3. Achievement of strong biodiversity performance.
4. Economic feasibility and sustainable commercial viability with the above.
5. Assets which evidence their environmental performance matching or exceeding the design modelling and ratings.
6. Engagement across the project or organisation to achieve the above.
7. Details on how the project or organisation is industry-leading on the above with good potential for transferability.

Value

 

Judges are looking for an initiative, project or series of projects that has focused on the value of facilities in use and the outcomes for owners and users. Good facilities add value by enabling owners and/or users to live or work better in them.

Winners will demonstrate how whole life cost and value have been considered from the outset; combining capital costs of construction with maintenance, operational and occupiers’ costs.  The most important factor will have been the outcomes for the owners and users of the facilities, and these should have been a key driver throughout the design and construction process.

Entrants should be able to evidence the balance of expenditure between design, construction and operation, and must provide evidence or forecasts for improved outcomes for owners and/or users.  Such outcomes may be financial, social or environmental.

Winning exemplars of Value will demonstrate some of the following attributes:

1. Increased value for owners and/or users and better outcomes for all stakeholders.
2. Value for owners and/or users a key driver throughout the design and construction process.
3. Supplier engagement to ensure value outcomes are understood and maintained.
4. Examples of where decisions were determined by future outcomes/benefits ahead of short-term considerations.
5. Performance data collected and compared against modelling/forecasts.

Health, Safety & Wellbeing

 

Health, Safety & Wellbeing is of paramount importance and a culture of ‘safety first’ is crucial to performance. Overarching health and safety risk management systems and effective health initiatives are fundamental to reducing or eliminating all types of incident and promoting health and well–being across the supply chain.

The winner may be able to demonstrate consideration of either project health & safety at the pre-construction and/or construction phases of a project or an organisational initiative impacting on multiple projects or their workforce.  Judges will be looking for an approach that demonstrates a number of the following attributes:

1. An overarching health & safety management culture.
2. Leadership and innovation leading to new health & safety schemes, tools, processes or actions which ensure protection and improvements occur.
3. Clear strategies that provide sustainable and effective risk management.
4. Workplace health and workplace safety considered in equal measure.
5. Real benefits for all parties, evidenced by objective measurement criteria such as KPIs, AIR, AFR and RIDDOR performance.

 Sustainability

 

Sustainable construction aims to meet present day needs for housing, working environments and infrastructure without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs in times to come. It incorporates elements of economic efficiency, environmental performance and social responsibility – and contributes to the greatest extent when architectural quality, technical innovation and transferability are included.

Judges are looking for organisations or projects whose achievements, in relation to the legacy their work leaves, have made a positive impact on society and demonstrated best practice in triple bottom line effects and social value.

Exemplary sustainability legacies will be evidenced by:

1. Reduction in greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions through design and construction measures, leading to reductions both in the build and operation phases of assets.
2. Waste and carbon emissions reduction during construction, through design and construction innovation.
3. Economic feasibility and sustainable commercial viability and their long term impact.
4. Construction having a social value impact on its neighbouring business, residential, educational and voluntary communities so that the industry’s image is improved.
5. Assets which evidence their performance matches or exceeds the design modelling and ratings.

Sponsorship opportunities

For more than a decade the Awards have grown to become one of the highlights of the business year, with over 500 people regularly turning out to witness the best of construction across the UK.

These prestigious awards will be held in Autumn/Winter in a prestigious London venue and are designed to showcase and reward achievement for organisations and individuals successfully driving excellence in the industry.

This event is a great opportunity for companies who wish to be seen as proactively leading the way within the Built Environment. Winners are selected across 16 categories.

The sponsorship packages are available and we will be happy to welcome you as a Headline or Category Sponsor. You can pre-order sponsorship packages with the detailed benefits you receive from supporting the Awards Programme.

Get in Touch

Interested in becoming a national member of Constructing Excellence, OR the next Winner of the CE Awards?

Reach out here or via email at [email protected]