The Accelerate to Zero Awards recognise the businesses, organisations and individuals making the biggest contribution to decarbonising the built environment and supporting the just transition to zero carbon.
During the ceremony held at voco Grand Central in Glasgow, businesses, individuals, and organisations will be celebrated for their contribution and dedication to decarbonising the built environment across 10 different categories.
Date: 5th November 2026
Location: voco Grand Central, Glasgow
Accelerate to Zero Award 2026 Categories
Applications opening soon
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Our judges
Mat Colmer, UK Research and Innovation
Chiara Fingland, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
Charlie Forshaw, Rainmaking
Susan Hanlin, City of Glasgow Council
Simon McWhirter, UKGBC
Matthew Clubb, mwclubb
Brogan MacDonald, Ramboll
Janice Russell, McTaggart Construction
Sam King, Lower Thames Crossing
Parag Cameron-Rastogi, GRESB
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