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ICE North East

Awards

ICE North East works to promote and celebrate the outstanding work of members. It organises awards to recognise exceptional projects, teamwork and individual excellence.

Our 2025 awards

Our ICE North East Awards 2025 are now open for entries.

Select the award below to find out how to enter.

Robert Stephenson Awards

Categories:

  • Large Project Award for projects over £5 million
  • Medium Project Award for projects between £1 and £5 million
  • Small Project Award for projects under £1 million

Enter in these steps:

  1. Read the project awards entry pack.
  2. Complete the online entry form by 5pm on Friday 17 January 2025.
  3. Submit payment of £200 (excl. VAT) by 5pm on Friday 17 January 2025.

Team Award

There is one category in this year's Team Award: ICE North East Technical Excellence Award

Enter in these steps:

  1. Complete the online entry form by 5pm on Friday 17 January 2025.
  2. Submit payment of £200 (excl. VAT) by 5pm on Friday 17 January 2025.

Please note: you can enter a project into the Robert Stephenson Awards as well as the Technical Excellence Award.

People awards

Categories:

  • STEM Ambassador of the Year Award
  • Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Champion Award
  • Sustainability Champion Award
How to enter

STEM Ambassador of the Year

  1. Download and complete the entry form.
  2. Send your completed form to [email protected] by 5pm on 17 January 2025.

Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Champion Award and Sustainability Champion Award

  1. Download and complete the entry form.
  2. Send your completed form to [email protected] by 5pm on 17 January 2025.

Please note: there is no fee for entering the People Awards.

Judging and interviews will take place on 05-06 March 2025.

Winners will be announced during the ICE North East Annual Dinner and Awards taking place on Thursday 10 April 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Newcastle. 

For any queries about entering these awards please contact the regional office at [email protected].

2025 awards sponsors

With thanks to our sponsors of this years awards. Find out more about becoming an award sponsor.

Headline sponsor

CDM

CDM

CDM Recruitment Ltd is an established, long- term supplier of construction related staff for temporary and permanent appointments.

Sustainability Champion Award sponsor

Project Groundwater Northumbria

Project Groundwater Northumbria

The project emphasises both innovation and learning, and we are committed to trying fresh approaches and learning from them.

Our 2024 awards winners

Our awards are split into two main categories, projects and people. See all our winners below.

Project awards

Ranging from small to multi-million-pound projects, these awards celebrate innovative projects across our region.

Dawdon Short Sea Outfall scheme

Dawdon Short Sea Outfall team
Dawdon Short Sea Outfall team collecting their award.

The winner of the Small Category Award, for projects valued under £1 million, was Dawdon Short Sea Outfall.

The project was delivered by WSP and Southbay Civil Engineering Ltd for the Coal Authority.

The judges said that this was a hugely interesting project. The design changes and the final impact on the environment was impressive, given the exceptionally difficult site conditions brought about by climate change.

Trinity Enterprise Zone Enabling Works

Trinity Enterprise Zone Enabling Works team
Trinity Enterprise Zone Enabling Works team collecting their award.

The winner of the Medium Category Award, for projects valued between £1 and £5 million, was Trinity Enterprise Zone Enabling Works.

This project was delivered by Mott MacDonald Limited and Esh Construction for Sunderland City Council.

The judges were impressed with the community impact of the project, the team’s enthusiasm and the consideration of carbon footprint from the outset.

The workforce was involved in decision making and the team lived by the ‘three Cs’ of consensus, collaboration and common sense.

They also fundraised, ran mental health campaigns, developed a QR health and safety system – now used nationally and by the client – and undertook work with local school children.

A66 Elton Interchange

A66 Elton Interchange team
A66 Elton Interchange team collecting their award.

The winner of the Large Category Award, for projects valued over £5 million, was A66 Elton Interchange.

The project was delivered by Balfour Beatty and Arup for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

The judges thought that this was a great example of social value and the extent to which it can be delivered.

They commended the creation of a one-team environment and the initiatives to achieve it, including the judges’ favourite: an ice cream van!

Project awards commended

ICE North East organises and supports awards that showcase the outstanding achievements of ICE members in the region.

Whitburn Conservation Centre

Whitburn Conservation Centre team
Whitburn Conservation Centre team collecting their award.

Whitburn Conservation Centre was presented with a Highly Commended certificate on the night.

It was delivered for the National Trust by JC Consulting, MawsonKerr and Northern Bear Building Services.

This project really shone from the perspective of sustainability. The judges thought the use of sustainable options, like green-blue infrastructure and air source heat pumps, was fantastic to see.

They also felt it was evident that this project will have lasting impacts on the local community.

Cawledge Viaduct Refurbishment

Cawledge Viaduct Refurbishment team
Cawledge Viaduct Refurbishment team collecting their award.

The judges also presented a Special Award to Cawledge Viaduct Refurbishment.

They felt this project was a great example of what can be done by a community when led by engineers who are motivated to improve the environment in which they live.

They felt it was great to see how the majority of the project was funded through local support from members and the community.

The project was delivered by Adelphi Consulting Engineers, W L Straughan & Sons Ltd and CAN Structures for Aln Valley Railway.

Hexham Industrial Estates FAS

Hexham Industrial Estates FAS team
Hexham Industrial Estates FASt team collecting their award.

Hexham Industrial Estates Flood Alleviation Scheme was presented with a Highly Commended certificate for its use of Project 13 philosophies, which led to bold decisions to reduce carbon.

Specifically, the use of non-standard concrete and an update to British standards which has enhanced the availability of low-carbon solutions industry-wide.

It was delivered by Arup and BAM Nuttall for the Environment Agency.

Mandale Bridge

Mandale Bridge team
Mandale Bridge team collecting their award.

A Highly Commended certificate was also presented to Mandale Bridge, delivered by AtkinsRéalis and Balfour Beatty for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

This maintenance project stood out due to the early rethink which led to design changes and improved site accessibility and security.

The judges were extremely impressed with the breadth of social value undertaken.

People awards

ICE North East organises and supports awards that showcase the outstanding achievements of ICE members in the region.

Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Champion

The judges wanted to recognise the winner’s unwavering commitment to making change and giving a platform for others, as well as themselves.

The 2024 Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Champion 2024 is Lucy Davison, design coordinator at Systra Ltd.

The FIR Champion Award was sponsored by Waterman Aspen.

Highly Commended

Richard Stelling, works supervisor at Sir Robert McAlpine, was presented with the highly commended certificate.

The judges said, “Every workplace needs more people like our highly commended winner, who simply operates with an inclusive way of thinking every day.”

STEM Volunteer Award

The North East STEM Ambassador of the Year was presented to David Olive, highways civil engineering apprentice at AECOM.

He has supported many STEM events during 2023 and the judges were particularly impressed with his commitment to dispel the myths surrounding the apprenticeship route into civil engineering.

Sustainability Champion Award

The 2024 Sustainability Champion is Kirils Holstovs.

An engineer at AECOM, he was described by the judges as a disruptor, game changer and an inspiration for others, not only regionally, but nationally and internationally.

The Sustainability Champion Award was sponsored by Project Groundwater Northumbria.

Highly Commended

The Highly Commended Certificate, awarded for “their commitment to sustainability design and developing others”, went to Catherine Green, infrastructure technical lead at Stantec UK.

The Sustainability Champion Award was sponsored by Project Groundwater Northumbria.

ICE's president's gifts

Recipients of the ICE's president's gifts: Robert Chesney, Meshi Taka, Paula McMahon and Kate Cairns
Recipients of the ICE's president's gifts: Robert Chesney, Meshi Taka, Paula McMahon and Kate Cairns
p>The president’s gifts acknowledge members’ special contribution to business objectives of the ICE in the North East.

One was presented to Robert Chesney, graduate civil engineer at Stantec and current co-chair of the North East Early Careers Network.

He took a key role in the planning and delivery of the 2023 Northern Early Careers Network Conference held in Manchester.

Meshi Taka, current North East regional chair also received a president’s gift.

Taka is deputy chair of the ICE FIR committee and honorary co-chair of the editorial panel of the Civil Engineering Journal. In 2023, she also became a Fellow of the ICE.

Paula McMahon also recieved a president's gift on the night. McMahon has been a dedicated member of the ICE for many years.

As an ICE Fellow and trustee, she dedicates significant time to guiding the direction of the institution.

McMahon's commitment to the civil engineering profession shines through her passion for promoting the industry and developing people within it.

A president's gift was also presented to Kate Cairns, who's chaired the ICE Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Committee since 2016.

She's helped to ensure everyone, regardless of their background, has equal opportunity to thrive.

Cairns’ pioneering work in the sustainability and safety spaces has resulted in the creation of two new industry standards.

Cairns has shown unwavering dedication to changing the industry in order to change the world.

Could you be our next awards sponsor?

With local representation and multiple options from single award through to headline sponsor for all 12 regions, we have a sponsorship package tailored to you. Get in touch with the team today.

Emerging Engineers Award

Showcasing our student and graduate members originality and communication skills in this regional, then international competition, with the winner receiving the Emerging Engineers Cup.