Accelerate to Zero Awards

This award celebrates a standout entrant who has made the most remarkable contribution to decarbonising the built environment. Whether it's an individual or organisation, the winner embodies exceptional dedication and impact in driving sustainability, innovation and positive impact for the built environment and society.   

This winner of this award will not only be decided by the judging panel but also by BE-ST's audiences. BE-ST audiences will vote for a shortlisted entry that reflects the best overall effort, considering innovation, influence, contribution to the just transition and tangible results in reducing carbon emissions. The judges will choose the winner from the two shortlisted entries with the most votes.   

The judges will be looking for:   

• High level of detail, relevance, and quality from the entry (10%)  

• Quality evidence/clear ability to demonstrate impact through the work (30%)   

• The entry’s impact on advancing the built environment’s journey to net zero (20%)   

• Evidence of the wider positive impact for society/alignment with the just transition objectives (20%)  

•  Innovative elements of the entry (20%)  

Apply here.

This award is for organisations or companies who are working together collaboratively rather than competitively to accelerate the decarbonisation of the built environment. This can be collaboration between different groups of stakeholders - between commercial business and/or with academic and/or public sector organisations.

The judges will be looking for:  

• High level of detail, relevance, and quality from the entry (10%)  

•  Demonstration of how collaboration led to success (30%)  

•  Evidence of positive impact of prioritising collaboration (20%)  

•  Demonstration of long-term plans/potential for collaboration (20%)  

•  Innovative elements (10%)   

• Alignment with just transition objectives (10%) 

Apply here.

This award is for a new, innovative product, service or business model which has been adopted and/or created with the goal of having a significant impact as a low carbon solution. Entrants must demonstrate the viable application of the solution, the potential carbon savings made and scalability.        

The judges will be looking for:   

•  High level of detail, relevance and quality from the entry (10%)  

•  Innovative elements of the entry (35%)  

•  Ability to demonstrate viability of the product, service or business (15%)  

•  Ability to demonstrate the potential carbon savings of implementation (15%)  

•  Demonstration of potential scalability (15%)  

•  Alignment with the just transition objectives (10%) 

Apply here.

This award is for an organisation which is leading the way in creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace/sector. Applicants should demonstrate how they are ensuring diversity and inclusion (D&I) in their business, how they engage and influence others in the wider sector to implement best practice and be able to demonstrate what the impact of improving equality, diversity and inclusion is.     

The judges will be looking for:    

•  High level of detail, relevance, and quality from the entry (10%)  

•  Ability to demonstrate significant level of integration of diversity & inclusion initiatives in business (30%)  

•  Evidence of positive impact of D&I on the business (20%)  

•  Evidence of positive impact on employees (20%)  

•  Engagement with and influence in wider sector (10%)  

•  Alignment with the just transition objectives (10%)  

Apply here.

Do you know a student or ‘early years’ professional demonstrating a significant commitment and contribution to solving the challenges faced in decarbonising the built environment? Nominate them for the BE Change Maker Award. Entries can be from any role or discipline.  

The judges will be looking for:   

•  High level of detail, relevance, and quality from the entry (10%)  

•  Evidence of ability to solve impactful challenge(s) (30%)  

•  Evidence of commitment (20%)  

•  Creativity of approach (25%)  

•  Wider social impact of work/alignment with the just transition (15%)  

Apply here.

This award celebrates circular economy practices in action in the built environment. Awarded to an organisation, individual, product or service which has demonstrated best practice and impact that has circularity at its core. Judges are looking for products, services or action that is scalable and transformational in nature. This could be in planning and design, procurement, construction, operation, or end of life of assets.  

The judges will be looking for:    

• High level of detail, relevance, and quality from the entry (10%)  

• Quality of evidence and ability to demonstrate impact (30%)  

•  Justification of approach being ‘best practice’ (20%)  

•  Demonstration of potential for scalability (20%)  

•  Innovative elements of approach (10%)  

•  Alignment with the just transition objectives (10%)   

Apply here.

This is awarded to the technology-based solution or use of technology which is the most impactful in advancing the built environment’s journey to net zero. Judges are looking for digital solutions that can have the greatest impact and that can be scaled and implemented widely. This can be in the fields of planning/design, construction, or operations/facilities management.  

The judges will be looking for:  

• High level of detail, relevance, and quality from the entry (10%)  

•  Evidence of the effectiveness/impact of technology (30%)  

•  Potential for scalability (25%)  

•  Innovative elements (25%)  

•  Alignment with the just transition objectives (10%)  

Apply here.

This award is for the company or organisation that demonstrates a leading approach to the growth of the skills needed to help accelerate the transition to a zero carbon built environment. Judges are looking for evidence of an exemplar approach to boosting skills which are being deployed to scale the decarbonisation of construction.

The judges will be looking for:  

• High level of detail, relevance, and quality from the entry (10%)  

•  Need/importance of specific skill(s)/learning (15%)  

•  Approach to skills development (20%)  

•  Evidence of impact/influence on skills infrastructure (25%)  

•  Influence in the wider sector (15%)  

•  Alignment with the just transition objectives (15%) 

Apply here.

This award is for the organisation, company or team making the most progress in decarbonising the built environment. This could be a solution, a product and or service that you have provided or created, that can be deployed at scale, and which is making a significant impact on addressing the retrofit and/or decarbonisation challenge. It is open to any type of organisation that plays a role in the decarbonisation of any element of the built environment: contractor, real estate owners, public sector landlord, professional services, suppliers, etc.  

The judges will be looking for:  

• High level of detail, relevance, and quality from the entry (10%)  

•  Quality of evidence and ability to demonstrate decarbonisation (30%)  

•  Demonstration of potential for speedy adoption and scalability (30%)  

•  Innovative elements (20%)  

•  Alignment with the just transition objectives (10%)  

Apply here.

For individuals, companies or organisations who have made a significant contribution to transformation on a local scale. This transformation should demonstrate a long-term benefit for the citizens of a community in decarbonising the built environment. Nominations can be from an individual or any type of organisation: business, public sector organisation, NGO or charity, community groups and so on.

 You can self-nominate or nominate someone/an organisation in your network. 

The judges will be looking for:  

• High level of detail, relevance, and quality from the entry (10%)   

• Demonstration of long-term benefit to citizens/communities (30%)   

• Level of alignment with just transition commitments (30%)  

• Positive environmental impact (15%)

Shortlisted entries for the Community Champion Award will receive one free ticket to the awards ceremony.

Apply here.