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There are 24 Awards with an additional 3 Judges Special Awards - here you will find out the criteria for each.

CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE AWARDS - Apprentice of The Year

Construction People of the Year - Apprentice of the Year

Sponsored by

2025 Winners

Building Project OTY - Woodvale Construction
Public Realm & Landscaping Project OTY - Fox Building & Engineering

Eligibility

Any project not covered by the eligibility criteria in the other categories
This could include, but is not limited to any construction project delivering particular social value or providing a resource for the community for example, sports clubs, community halls, churches or council buildings

Entries will be judged on the following criteria

Consideration of the needs of the end user
Client engagement and satisfaction
Contribution to buildability and evidence of a high standard of finish
Project management with particular regard to finishing the work on time and on budget and management of supply chain
Health and safety
Sustainability performance
Management of public impact
Project must be complete at time of Judging

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION Project of the Year

Commercial Construction Project of the Year

Sponsored by

2025 Winner - GRAHAM
2025 Highly Commended - Antrim Construction

Eligibility

Any housing development, either new build or refurbishment, to include student accommodation and private or social housing apartment projects
At least 50% of the project must be complete
The development can be either a brownfield or greenfield site

Entries will be judged on the following criteria

A distinctive overall sense of place that takes into account the characteristics of the site and its setting
Quality and sustainability of the overall layout, in the form and detailed design of the building/s, and the spaces around
A feeling of security and a sense of vitality in all parts of the layout
Consideration of the needs of the end user
Client engagement and satisfaction where relevant
Contribution to buildability and evidence of a high standard of finish
Project management with particular regard to finishing the work on time and on budget and management of supply chain
Health and safety
Sustainability performance
Management of public impact

HEALTH Project of the Year

Health Project of the Year

Sponsored by

2025 Winner - FLYNN

Eligibility

Any construction project delivering a building for healthcare purposes for example, hospitals, community treatment care centres, care homes or doctors' surgeries.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria

Consideration of the needs of the end user
Client engagement and satisfaction
Contribution to buildability and evidence of a high standard of finish
Project management with particular regard to finishing the work on time and on budget and management of supply chain
Health and safety
Sustainability performance
Management of public impact
Project must be complete at time of Judging

EDUCATION Project of the Year

Education Project of the Year

Sponsored by System Certification Services (SCS)

2025 Winner - Woodvale Construction
2025 Highly Commended - Felix O'Hare

Eligibility

Any construction project delivering a building for education purposes for example, primary schools, secondary schools, further and higher education colleges and libraries.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria

Consideration of the needs of the end user
Client engagement and satisfaction
Contribution to buildability and evidence of a high standard of finish
Project management with particular regard to finishing the work on time and on budget and management of supply chain
Health and safety
Sustainability performance
Management of public impact
Project must be complete at time of Judging

INFRASTRUCTURE Project of the Year

Infrastructure Project of the Year

Sponsored by

2025 Winners
Infrastructure Project OTY, above £10m - Farrans/Sacyr JV
Infrastructure Project OTY, below £10m - AG Wilson

Highly Commended - Infrastructure Project OTY, below £10m - BSG Civil Engineering

Eligibility

Any construction project relating to transport infrastructure for example roads, bridges, railways, public realms, cycles routes, airports, ports or harbours OR
Any construction project relating to utilities infrastructure for example water, gas, electricity or communications utilities

Entries will be judged on the following criteria

TRANSPORT

Traffic Management
Engineering solutions to overcome constraints
Consideration of the needs of the end user
Client engagement and satisfaction
Contribution to buildability and evidence of a high standard of finish
Project management with particular regard to finishing the work on time and on budget and management of supply chain
Health and safety
Sustainability performance
Management of public impact
Project must be complete at time of Judging

OR, FOR UTILITIES

Engineering solutions to overcome constraints
Consideration of the needs of the end user
Client engagement and satisfaction
Contribution to buildability and evidence of a high standard of finish
Project management with particular regard to finishing the work on time and on budget and management of supply chain
Health and safety
Sustainability performance
Management of public impact
Project must be complete at time of Judging

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH & SAFETY AND WELLBEING

Excellence in Health & Safety and Wellbeing

Sponsored by

2025 Winners - AG Wilson

Eligibility

The judges will be looking at your company’s wider commitment to health and safety and the work done to achieve exemplary standards.
This award highlights overall business performance in health and safety, rather than one specific project or initiative, although examples of these should be included to support your entry.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria

The outcomes of H&S and wellbeing initiatives and actions to tackle mental health
Commitment to staff training and exceeding client demands
Innovation in H&S and the H&S culture within your business
Projects that demonstrate the highest standards of H&S and wellbeing
Commitment to extending your H&S culture up and/or down your supply chain
A stand-out example that particularly merits this award – the ‘wow’ factor.

EXCELLENCE IN TRAINING

Excellence in Training

Sponsored by

New Award for 2026

Background
This award recognizes a maintenance contractor that has demonstrated exceptional technical skill, innovation, and reliability in the preservation of the built environment. We are looking for more than "fix-on-fail" services; the winner will be a partner who utilizes data-driven insights to extend asset life, reduce operational carbon, and ensure a seamless experience for building occupants.

This award celebrates the "invisible heroes" who ensure that complex infrastructure remains safe, efficient, and resilient.

Eligibility Criteria

The entry must focus on a specific contract or a series of works that took place under a single contract within the past two years on assets including commercial offices, residential schemes (social or private), industrial facilities, healthcare/education sites, or other public infrastructure.
Work must fall under "Hard FM" (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fabric) or "Specialist Maintenance" (fire safety, vertical transportation, roofing, etc.)

Judging Criteria
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

Criteria 1 - Technical Reliability & Performance

KPI Achievement: Evidence of consistently meeting or exceeding Service Level Agreements (SLAs), including "First-Time Fix" rates and emergency response times.
Compliance Mastery: A proven track record of statutory/contractual compliance with rigorous audit trails.
Operational Continuity: Demonstration of how maintenance activities were phased to ensure zero or minimal disruption to the client's core business operations.

Criteria 2 - Innovation & Smart Maintenance

Digital Integration: Use of CAFM (Computer-Aided Facilities Management) systems to provide real-time transparency and data-led decision-making for the client.
Modern Methods: Implementation of any new tools, integration of IoT, drone inspections, or AI-driven scheduling that improved efficiency or demonstrate move from reactive to predictive maintenance models.

Criteria 3 - The "Partnership" Factor

Energy Optimization: Quantifiable data showing how maintenance interventions (e.g., HVAC tuning, LED upgrades, building envelope repairs) reduced the building’s energy consumption.
Circular Economy: Evidence of "repair over replace" mentalities, waste diversion from landfill, and sustainable procurement of materials.
Carbon Reporting: Ability to provide the client with accurate Scope 3 emissions data related to maintenance activities.

Criteria 4 - Innovation & Smart Maintenance

Cultural Alignment: How the maintenance team integrates with the client’s internal culture and values
Occupant Experience: Evidence of high "Customer Satisfaction" scores from the actual people using the building.
Problem Solving: A specific case study where the contractor went beyond the contract scope to solve a critical or long-standing structural/mechanical issue.

Criteria 5 - Social Value & Workforce Legacy

Skills Development: Investment in apprenticeships, upskilling existing staff in "green" technologies.
Local Impact: Evidence of supporting local supply chains or community initiatives within the contract's geographical area.

You must submit 5 high resolution digital images to support your entry.

Suggested Entry Requirements

Applicants may include in addition to the written entry:

A "Data Dashboard": A one-page infographic showing 3 key metrics (e.g., Energy saved, SLA % hit, and Carbon reduced).
Client Testimonial: A signed letter of endorsement from the Property or Facilities Manager.
Before/After Evidence: Photographic or data-based evidence of a specific asset improvement.

DESIGN EXCELLENCE

Design Excellence

In Partnership with ICE

New Award for 2026

This award is to recognise a team, from one organisation or a multi-disciplinary partnership that has demonstrated exceptional synergy.
While the entry will naturally be set against the backdrop of a project, the primary focus of this award is the team's interaction, specifically how they integrated innovation, collaboration and sustainability to overcome challenges.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria

Cutting Edge engineering design, practice and solutions to navigate complex technical challenges
Exemplary technical expertise applied to enhance real-world outcomes.
A demonstrated commitment to quality and efficiency, sustainability and social impact (UNSDGs).
Successful navigation of challenges together.
Evidence of a team environment that fostered a culture of innovation, allowing the group to exceed the original project goals.

Entries should clearly articulate

How the team's collective effort and synergy contributed to the overall success of a project
How the team’s interaction led to tangible improvements in project safety, sustainability, or efficiency.

Also to note:
Please remember that while the project output provides the context, the judges are looking for evidence of team interaction - ideally including elements of innovation, collaboration, sustainability, that turns a good design into an excellent one.
The lead organisation must be NI based, but partners within the wider team may be based in GB, RoI, or further afield.

MINERAL PRODUCT SUPPLIER of the Year

Mineral Product Supplier of the Year

In Partnership with MPA Northern Ireland

New Award for 2026

Eligibility

This award is open to members of MPA Northern Ireland.
This award recognises a mineral products supplier that demonstrates excellence, leadership and continuous improvement across safety, sustainability, people, carbon reduction and product quality
Entrants should provide evidence of performance over the previous 12–24 months.

Overall Assessment - Judges will also consider:

Leadership and innovation across all criteria
Evidence-based submissions rather than policy statements alone
Continuous improvement and industry best practice
Transferability and wider Industry benefit

Criteria 1 Health and Safety
Judges will assess the supplier’s commitment to protecting employees, contractors, customers and the public.

Evidence may include:

Demonstrable reduction in accidents, incidents and near misses
Robust health and safety management systems (e.g. ISO 45001 or equivalent)
Proactive risk management, including traffic management and site safety
Workforce engagement in safety culture (toolbox talks, reporting, leadership visibility)
Innovation or best practice in health, wellbeing and mental health support
Strong contractor and supply chain safety management

Key question:
How effectively does the organisation embed a positive, proactive safety culture beyond compliance?

Criteria 2 - Sustainability
Judges will consider how the supplier manages environmental impacts and contributes positively to local communities.

Evidence may include:

Responsible resource use (water, raw materials, waste minimisation)
Biodiversity enhancement, restoration or land management initiatives
Environmental management systems (e.g. ISO 14001 or equivalent)
Community engagement, local economic contribution and transparency
Demonstrable improvements in environmental performance year-on-year

Key question:
How does the supplier balance operational performance with long-term environmental and community responsibility?

Criteria 3 - Skills Development
Judges will assess how the supplier invests in its people and supports the future workforce.

Evidence may include:

Training programmes, apprenticeships or upskilling initiatives
Leadership development and succession planning
Support for professional qualifications and CPD
Initiatives to improve workforce diversity, inclusion and wellbeing
Engagement with schools, colleges or industry training bodies

Key question:
How is the supplier developing skills to support resilience, productivity and future industry needs?

Criteria 4 - Decarbonisation
Judges will look for clear leadership in reducing carbon emissions across operations and products.

Evidence may include:

Measurement and reporting of Scope 1, 2 and (where relevant) Scope 3 emissions
Investment in low-carbon plant, fuels, electrification or renewable energy
Product innovation to reduce embodied carbon
Clear decarbonisation targets aligned with industry or national net zero goals
Collaboration with customers or suppliers to reduce whole-life carbon

Key question:
How credible, measurable and ambitious is the supplier’s decarbonisation pathway?

Criteria 5 - Quality Accreditation
Judges will assess the supplier’s commitment to quality, compliance and customer confidence.

Evidence may include:

Third-party product and process certification (e.g. BSI, QSRMC, or equivalent)
Quality management systems (e.g. ISO 9001)
Robust testing, traceability and audit processes
Customer feedback and performance consistency
Demonstrable action taken in response to non-conformances or lessons learned

Key question:
How does the supplier ensure consistent, assured quality that exceeds minimum standards?

You must submit 5 high resolution digital images to support your entry.

GB & RoI CONSTRUCTION Project of the Year, above £10m

GB & RoI Construction Project of the Year, above £10m

Sponsored by

2025 Winners - above £50m Award - GRAHAM

Eligibility

Any project which is located outside Northern Ireland but within GB and Republic of Ireland and had a value above £10m. The project must fall within one of the following categories:

Private Housing
Social Housing
Multiple Occupancy
Social/Community Construction
Commercial Construction
Restoration
Fit-out
Transport & Utilities Infrastructure
Health Infrastructure
Education Infrastructure
Project must be complete at time of judging

Entries will be judged against the criteria laid down in the relevant category.

As a site visit will not be possible in this category shortlisted finalists will be expected to attend a 20 minute interview as well as submitting a video of the project. The video must not exceed 15 minutes in length.

Videos must be submitted via We Transfer or a pen drive at least 3 working days prior to the judging interview. Failure to do so will result in the entry being removed from the shortlist.

Interview dates will be August 2026 - dates & timings will be strictly enforced.

GB & RoI CONSTRUCTION Project of the Year, below £10m

GB & RoI Construction Project of the Year, below £10m

Sponsored by

2025 Winners

Buildings Project OTY, below £50m - Felix O'Hare
Infrastructure Project OTY, below £50m - BSG Civil Engineering

Eligibility

Any project which is located outside Northern Ireland but within GB and Republic of Ireland and had a value below £10m. The project must fall within one of the following categories:

Private Housing
Social Housing
Multiple Occupancy
General Construction
Commercial Construction
Restoration
Fit-out
Transport & Utilities Infrastructure
Health Infrastructure
Education Infrastructure
Project must be complete at time of judging

Entries will be judged against the criteria laid down in the relevant category.

Videos must be submitted via We Transfer or a pen drive at least 3 working days prior to the judging interview. Failure to do so will result in the entry being removed from the shortlist.

Interview dates will be August 2026 - dates and timings will be strictly enforced.

ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE IN PARTNERING

The Achieving Excellence in Partnering Award is a Judges' bonus award given to the entry which displays the best approach to partnering in the delivery of the project. The award is to be shared by the client, the design team and the construction team.

Companies are not able to enter themselves for this Award.

This Award is sponsored by

2025 Winners - Felix O'Hare

Eligibility

All award entries that relate to individual construction projects, both public and private sector, that are shortlisted for a category award will automatically be considered for this bonus award.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria

Collaborative working and integrated approach resulting in an improved performance
Agreement of mutual objectives/shared goals
Dispute resolution
Commitment to sharing gains and commercial arrangements including incentives
Early involvement of key members of the project team
Use of common processes such as shared IT
Good relationships throughout the supply chain
Minimal design changes during the construction phase
Measurable targets for health and safety, sustainability, design quality, value engineering and completion dates
Project must be complete at time of judging

OVERALL WINNER

Sponsored By PAYAPPS

The Overall Winner Award for the most outstanding entry will be made to the category winner that, in the opinion of the Judges, best exemplifies dedication to the pursuit of excellence in construction.

The Judges will be looking for a particularly exceptional performance / project or a ground breaking initiative.

This award does not require a separate entry.

2025 Winners - Farrans/Sacyr JV