2026 Winners

Apprenticeship Initiative of the Year

Winners:

• ESG - A Fully Integrated Employer – College Partnership Model Developing the Next Generation of Engineers

The standout feature was the neurodiversity training delivered by Neurodiversity Bridge, which is helping to broaden access to apprenticeships. A strong employer–college partnership links education directly to live projects, bridging the gap between education and employment. This is underpinned by a strong culture that supports learning and progression.

Shortlist:

• Avove - Early Careers at Avove
• Gateshead College - PlanBEE
• Spencer Group - Apprenticeship Programme & Buddy Scheme
• Trant Engineering - Trant Apprenticeship Scheme

Apprentice of the Year

Winners:

• Brienny Allard - ESG

Brienny's outstanding practical work, demonstrated at national competition level, shone through. She has made an outstanding contribution to bringing others into the sector, supporting fellow apprentices and leading school outreach. She has gone above and beyond expectations in her social outreach and in representing women in technical roles within the sector. A future ambassador for the construction sector.

Shortlist:

• Elise Bundy - CMDP+
• Callum Vaughan - Balfour Beatty - Asset &Technology Solutions
• Amelia Woods - Tilbury Douglas
• Awais Zubair - John Carney Construction

Degree Apprentice of the Year

Winners:

• Paul Watson-Peters - Mott MacDonald

The judges were impressed by Paul's willingness to bring others along on his learning journey. There is strong evidence of him applying his academic learning to deliver workplace improvements and influence others. His wider engagement with a huge range of students and colleagues has made a significant impact and added real strength to this entry. It is great to see his progression from a Level 4 apprenticeship to a degree apprenticeship.

Highly Commended:

• Paris Ramsay - Turner & Townsend

Shortlist:

• Lauren Flemming - CMDP+
• Annabel Houghton - Senate Consulting
  
• Nickel Innis - WSP
• Nina Nwanze - Ward & Burke
• Charley Tordoff - Tilbury Douglas
• Elijah Twiss - Arcadis
• Erin Wall - OCU Group
• Caitlin Walsh - Tilbury Douglas

Excellence in Learning & Development

Winners:

• OCU Group - Connecting our Future

The judges were impressed by OCU Group's ability to demonstrate that learning and development is a genuine driver of business growth. Through Connecting our Future, OCU has aligned talent development with workforce planning and the future needs of the organisation. Since 2024, its early careers population has grown from 28 to 215, with 100% retention across the 2024 and 2025 cohorts, 45% promoted within 12 months and more than £2.5 million in reported commercial value. What ultimately distinguished OCU was the strength of the connection between learning and business performance, backed by visible executive sponsorship and a sustainable pipeline of future talent.

Shortlist:

• Balfour Beatty Vinci working in partnership with HS2 - Aspiring Leaders Programme
• ESG- Developing the Workforce of the Future
• JN Bentley - Built from within: integrating onboarding, upskilling and training to deliver safer, smarter construction projects
• Kier Construction - From Regulation to Reality: Embedding Building Safety Through Learning
• Metro Rod - AI-powered Toolbox Talks: where professional development meets compliance
• Mott MacDonald - MCP (Mid-Career Professional) Network
• Munnelly Group - Leadership Development Programme - One Group, One Mission, One Standard
• Ringley Group - Excellence in Learning & Development
• Roads Academy, National Highways - Roads Academy
• Tilbury Douglas -  From Early Careers to Future Leaders
• Trant Engineering -  Learning, Development and training team

Graduate of the Year

Winners:

• Yaz El Mozee - Arcadis

The judges were particularly impressed by Yaz El Mozee's initiative, determination and outstanding problem-solving. At such an early stage in her career, Yaz has gone far beyond simply learning and developing: she has identified real business problems and built solutions with immediate, measurable impact. Her work has saved hundreds of engineering hours and significant cost, while her YETI programme is helping others to build their own AI capability. What set Yaz apart was her maturity in taking ownership, influencing others and delivering impact well beyond what would normally be expected of a graduate. The judges felt this combination of achievement, leadership and potential made Yaz a highly deserving Graduate of the Year.

Shortlist:

• Tessa Hawes - Tilbury Douglas
• Nickel Innis - WSP
• Matthew Jones - Balfour Beatty Vinci
• Emma McGuire - OCU Group
• Nyasha Mutembwa - Amey
• Eva Schoenmaker - Eckersley O'Callaghan
• Tom Stanton - Mott MacDonald Bentley
• Olivia Whitworth - CMDP+
• Philip Wilberforce - Cahill Design Consultants

Mentor of the Year

Winners:

• Colin Buckle - Arcadis

Colin Buckle stood out for the depth, reach and lasting legacy of his mentoring. As well as mentoring Arcadis's first six civil engineering degree apprentices through successful end-point assessments, he has turned his own experience into practical support for the wider industry, creating free guidance, webinars and one-to-one support for apprentices, line managers, SMEs, employers and training providers across the UK. His influence ranges from supporting individuals at critical moments in their careers to contributing to national apprenticeship policy through Skills England. The judges were particularly impressed by the multiplier effect of Colin's approach: developing people who can go on to develop others, and creating an impact that will endure.

Highly Commended:

• Bashar AbuEqtaish -  AtkinsRéalis

Shortlist:

• Chris Allingham - EHA Group
• Joseph Brickley-Wood - JAMTech Solutions
• James Cooper - Taylor Woodrow
• Jayne Greaves - JGTD
• Luke Houghton - Mott MacDonald
• Neil Slater - Willmott Dixon
• Maggie Stefaniak - Tilbury Douglas

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Champion of the Year

Winners:

• Dana James-Edwards - The Supply Chain Sustainability School

Dana has demonstrated clear strategic leadership, passion and determination in addressing systemic barriers within the industry. The judges were impressed by her understanding of industry-specific challenges and her growth mindset, continually seeking to improve and evolve. Securing CITB funding for the app has given the industry a practical tool for creating more inclusive workplaces, while her use of data from the Diversity Benchmarking Initiative has challenged the pace and progress of change across the industry.

Shortlist:

• Emily Hammond - Graham
• Rohit Malhotra - AtkinsRéalis
• Lacey Nash - Connect Plus Services - Balfour Beatty JV

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year

Winners:

•  AtkinsRéalis - Youth Advisors Initiative

The Youth Advisors Initiative (YAI) has brought about real change in communication and engagement with employees aged 18–35. This well-evidenced, well-structured entry showed that younger employees have been given meaningful influence over leadership and workforce strategy, with particular strengths in employee engagement, leadership accessibility and the retention of early-career talent. The judges were particularly impressed by the roundtable initiative, which brought leaders together in a safe space and generated strong engagement from the target audience.

Shortlist:

• Balfour Beatty - Flow & Tell
• Engendering Change - Professional Standards Training and Certification: Preventing Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment.
• ESG - Embedding Neuroinclusion Across ESG
• GMI Construction Group  -  You Matter
• Graham - Ability not Disability
• Skills 4 - EMPOWER Programme
• The Supply Chain Sustainability School - The FIR Pilot of the Supply Chain School App

Health & Safety Champion of the Year

Winners:

• Vicki Morten - Arcadis

It was great to see Vicki nominated in this category: she is not a health and safety professional, but a technical director supporting the business. Vicki is a passionate advocate for health and safety, consistently going beyond compliance to foster genuine engagement and an emotional connection with everyone she works with. Her innovative approach has made a positive impact on culture across the business and its projects.

Shortlist:

• Steve Blundell - John F Hunt Regeneration
• Rob Fanstone - Trant Engineering
• Shane Moore - Quality Safety Consultants
• Lee Whiteside - EHA Group

Health & Safety Initiative of the Year

Winners:

• Mott MacDonald Bentley - Controlling of high energy hazards

A strong, positive application demonstrating high-performance impacts and visible culture change. As part of this initiative, training has been rolled out to more than 2,800 colleagues across frontline, operational, commercial, design and business support roles. Since launch, more than 2,300 positive interventions relating to high energy hazards (HEH) have been reported, and by February 2026 the business was reporting its lowest AIFR in more than 50 years.

Shortlist:

• Equans Sci-Tech - Safety Lens - from Reporting to Risk Prevention
• GMI Construction Group - Think Safe, Work Safe
• Metro Rod - AI-Driven Safety Readiness
• Radius Group - EIERRC Enhanced Industry Emergency Response, Rescue & Command
• Tilbury Douglas -  Changing the Conversation
• Werner - April Fall's Month

Mental Health & Wellbeing Champion of the Year

Winners:

• Terry Wilcock - Premier Technical Services Group

Terry has developed health and wellbeing at Premier Technical Services Group from nothing into a highly effective function in just three years. His strategic yet hands-on leadership has made a real difference within the business. He has taken the time to build trust by holding difficult conversations and making colleagues feel safe to ask for help.

Highly Commended:

• Neil Gob - CMDP+

Shortlist:

• Lucy Burton - Balfour Beatty Vinci
• Jo Foster - Lucion
• Clémence O'Connor - Dalkia UK
• Mark Scaife - Cahill Design Consultants

Mental Health & Wellbeing Initiative of the Year

Winners:

• Laminar Projects - The Laminar Way

The winner is Laminar Projects for The Laminar Way. This was a standout submission, demonstrating genuine innovation and leadership commitment by providing direct, expert psychological support to employees rather than just awareness or signposting. The organisation's 200-plus employees receive monthly one-to-one CBT-informed coaching, with 98% actively participating. It is a highly distinctive approach, supported by exceptional engagement, continuous improvement and independent external recognition.

Highly Commended:

• Morgan Sindall Construction - "We Thrive" -100% SAFE

Shortlist:

• Cahill Design Consultants - Collaborative Culture & Wellbeing
• George Leslie - George Leslie Wellbeing in Action
• Graham - The Graham Games
• Jackson Civil Engineering - Time to Talk - how podcasts have helped highlight the importance of open, compassionate conversations around mental health
• Lucion - Brew Crew
• Premier Technical Services Group (PTSG) - Partners in Wellbeing
• Willmott Dixon - Behavioural Safety Leadership & You are not alone

Staff Retention Initiative of the Year

Winners:

• Bam - Early Careers: Building Belonging, Retaining Talent

This entry combines clear strategic leadership through a systemic approach, meaningful employee co-creation, strong use of data and excellent, measurable retention outcomes. It addresses a clearly defined business problem, shows senior accountability and demonstrates that employee voice directly shaped solutions such as the onboarding redesign, career pathways and the apprentice/graduate hub. The evidence shows attrition materially reduced and engagement rising sharply, making this a standout, scalable retention model.

Highly Commended:

• Mott MacDonald - MCP (Mid-Career Professional) Network

Shortlist:

• ESG - Creating a Culture Where People Choose to Stay
• Ken Beard & Son - Psychology-Led Staff Retention Strategy
• Lucion - Enhanced Benefits Package

HR Team of the Year

Winners:

• ESG - Creating a Workplace of Choice

The entry stood out for combining employee voice, inclusion and early career development into one coherent strategy. The submission met all the criteria, with strong examples and meaningful data demonstrating its impact and success. Collaboration and effective partnerships were clearly visible throughout, adding to the power and impact of the submission.

Shortlist:

• Alun Griffiths (Contractors) - Change Management
• Indevor Group - People-First HR Strategy
• Lucion - From Fractured to United Strategy

Project Team of the Year

Winners:

• Arcadis - Ecology, Enabling Works and Ecological Mitigation at Sizewell C

This was the standout submission. The evidence of collaboration was high, creating an end-to-end One Team culture, including the supply chain, in which innovation was everyone's responsibility. There was strong evidence of lessons being learned across the business, not just within the project, alongside an impressive sustainability story.

Shortlist:

• Arcadis - The Energy Networks & Renewables Integrated Delivery Team
• Balfour Beatty - Energy Management Unit
• EHA Group - Curlyhill Road, Strabane
• GMI Construction Group - CityLabs 4.0
• GMI Construction Group - No.3 Circle Square
• Laminar Projects and Sweet Projects  - LON81 Hyperscale Data Centre Campus — Hayes, West London
• Mott MacDonald Bentley - Bromsgrove STW Growth
• Simple Works   Hastings Commons IF_DO - Eagle House

Sustainability Team of the Year

Winners:

• Enable Group - A Whole‑Business Approach to Low‑Carbon Delivery

The winner is Enable Group, whose approach demonstrates that sustainability is not simply a business commitment but second nature. Through its Low Carbon Construction Programme, the team has embedded sustainability into everyday decisions, from design and procurement to site operations and supply chain partnerships, achieving an impressive 34.7% year-on-year reduction in carbon emissions. What stood out to the judges was not just the measurable impact, but the way the entire organisation has embraced responsibility for delivering it. Enable has shown that real progress towards net zero comes when sustainability is no longer something extra, but simply the way things are done.

Shortlist:

• Balfour Beatty - Energy Management Unit
• Gilbert-Ash - ESG Strategy
• HS2 Integrated Project Team Area North - Integrated Environmental & Carbon Leadership – HS2 Area North IPT
• JN Bentley - Delivering Scalable Decarbonisation Through Innovation, Data and Collaboration
• Kilnbridge - Embedding Sustainability as "One Kilnbridge"
• Simple Works - North Acton Village Hut, BREW house pavilion, Natural Building Systems, Research with ReLondon

Technology Team of the Year

Winners:

• Balfour Beatty Vinci - BBV's Information Management and BIM team on HS2 Area North

The winner is Balfour Beatty VINCI's Information Management and BIM Team, for its work on HS2 Area North. The team tackled the challenge of managing digital information for hundreds of bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure assets, developing an automated system that converts existing 3D models into standardised, validated data. This ensures the information is accurate, consistent and suitable for the future operation and maintenance of the railway. The judges were impressed by the collaboration between technical teams, the complexity of the challenge and the measurable results, including data processing that is 3.2 times faster. They felt this was a strong example of a team working together to solve a difficult problem, and would welcome seeing the solution applied more widely across the project to realise its full potential.

Shortlist:

• Balfour Beatty Vinci - Digital Quality Control of Concrete
• Canary Wharf Group - Digital-First Delivery: One North Quay
• EDGE Software - Building the Digital Backbone of Modern Precast Construction
• JN Bentley -  Setting a New Standard in Temporary Power: Scalable Hybrid Welfare Solutions
• Lucion - NexGen Compliance Made Simple

Best Place to Work – Small Firm

Winners:

• Mainmark Ground Engineering 

Mainmark Ground Engineering is our winner for its outstanding commitment to employee wellbeing and engagement. By listening to employees through surveys, regular leadership site visits and a strong "You Said, We Did" approach, the company has created a culture in which people feel heard, valued and supported. The judges were particularly impressed by the personal stories of career growth and development, backed by tangible improvements in wellbeing, onboarding and workplace culture. Mainmark stood out for turning employee feedback into meaningful action and demonstrating a genuine commitment to investing in its people.

Shortlist:

• Ken Beard & Son 
• QSC Safety 
• Vantage Building Control 

Best Place to Work – Medium Firm

Winners:

• DACI Utilities Engineering Consultancy

This business was truly outstanding, displaying a passionate culture of listening and a core focus on growing individuals. This is a business that is applying a strongly collaborative culture and a best-practice framework to support significant growth, creating a human-centred organisation while maintaining momentum on health, wellbeing and career development as it scales. A standout in DEI, with 25 nationalities and an "all in it together" ethos, this is truly a business with people at the heart of everything it does, and a deserving winner of Best Place to Work – Medium Firm.

Highly Commended:

• Indevor Group

Shortlist:

• Gilbert-Ash
• GMI Construction Group
• Laminar Projects
• Legendre
• Munnelly Support Services
• TSL

Best Place to Work – Large Firm

Winners:

• George Leslie

George Leslie stood out to the judges for its authentic, proactive and people-focused approach to creating a positive workplace. The judges were particularly impressed by the emphasis on proactive health campaigns, the opportunities for employees to experience and understand different roles across the business, and the close relationship between the workforce and senior leadership. Most importantly, hearing directly from colleagues working on site and in site offices brought the submission to life and provided an authentic employee voice. Together, these elements demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring people feel supported, connected and valued at work. Congratulations to George Leslie, our winner.

Shortlist:

• Anglian Water - Lincolnshire Reservoir
• Avove
• ESG
• Kilnbridge
• Tilbury Douglas

Outreach Initiative of the Year

Winners:

• GMI Construction Group - Construction Cares

This was a compelling submission that demonstrated how a relatively small initiative can evolve into a large-scale programme delivering meaningful outcomes. Originally developed to support care leavers, the initiative has expanded significantly while retaining its focus on removing barriers to employment. The funding of CSCS cards, development of training pathways and emphasis on preventing young people from becoming NEET were particularly impressive. Strong collaboration with supply chain partners, support for hard-to-reach communities across multiple regions, and delivery beyond specific project locations demonstrated both commitment and scalability. The submission was supported by robust evidence, including workshop delivery figures, qualification outcomes and employment statistics, while the beneficiary case study helped bring the impact to life and clearly demonstrated the difference the programme is making.

Shortlist:

• Built Environment Schools Trust - My Environment My Future
• Construction Futures - Construction Futures - Navigating your career in Northern Ireland's Construction Industry
• EKFB - Skills, Employment & Education Team Outreach
• Everlast Group - Building The Future Schools Programme
• Graham - CRE8
• Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure - Building a lasting legacy (BaLL)
• PAH Building & Construction - PAH and Basingstoke College of Technology Outreach Partnership
• Tilbury Douglas - Prince Charles Hospital
• VINCI Building - Construction Explorers
• Willmott Dixon - Build Your Future

Social Value Initiative of the Year

Winners:

• Graham - CRE8

CRE8 Grassroots-driven and supported beyond its formal timeline, CRE8 has trained 150 participants and successfully transitioned 100 of them into employment. Its holistic approach relies on strong partnerships to deliver comprehensive, wraparound support, and outcomes are measured 12 months after each project to ensure lasting impact. The flexible framework aligns directly with local needs, and there is a clear commitment to sharing best practice and insights with the wider sector.

Highly Commended:

• Taylor Woodrow - Northumberland Street

Shortlist:

• Balfour Beatty Vinci - BBV's Community Investment Strategy
• Built Environment Schools Trust - My Environment My Future
• Dodd Group - Dodd Group's 2026 Social Value Success
• Enable Infrastructure - Enable Social Value Impact
• GMI Construction Group - Construction Cares
• Integrated Health Projects (the joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine) - Edward Street Refurbishment - D-ESH
• Tilbury Douglas - Catterick Integrated Care Centre
• Willmott Dixon - Partners in Purpose - University of Staffordshire Student Village