ICE North East Robert Stephenson Awards entry pack
For all the information you need to enter our 2025 RSA awards.
Download the entry pack
ICE North East works to promote and celebrate the outstanding work of members. It organises awards to recognise exceptional projects, teamwork and individual excellence.
ICE North East Awards 2025
Our awards are now open for entries.
Award categories
Robert Stephenson Awards
- 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
Team award
- ICE North East Technical Excellence Award
People awards
- STEM Ambassador of the Year Award
- Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Champion Award
- Sustainability Champion Award
Entry information
Robert Stephenson Awards
Please refer to the ICE North East entry information pack (on the right) before completing the online entry form:
Technical Excellence Award
Please complete the online entry form:
Payment
Submit and then pay for your Robert Stephenson Awards or your Technical Excellence Award entry by the closing date of 5pm on Friday 17 January 2025.
Cost for entries is £200 excl. VAT - pay now
Please note: you can enter a project into the Robert Stephenson Awards as well as the Technical Excellence Award
STEM Ambassador of the Year Award
Please complete and return the entry form:
Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Champion Award and
Sustainability Champion Award
Please complete and return the entry form:
Please return all People Award entries to [email protected].
Please note: there is no fee for entering the People Awards.
Dates for your diary
- Awards open for entries - Monday 11 November 2024
- Awards close for entries - Friday 17 January 2025
- Judging and interviews - Wednesday/Thursday 05-06 March 2025
- Awards ceremony - Thursday 10 April 2025
Awards ceremony
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. Book your table now:
2025 awards sponsors
With thanks to our sponsors of this years awards. Find out more about becoming an award sponsor.
Headline sponsor
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
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.
Small Project Award: under £1m
Dawdon Short Sea Outfall scheme
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Dawdon Short Sea Outfall scheme
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.
Medium Project Award: £1m-£5m
Trinity Enterprise Zone Enabling Works
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Trinity Enterprise Zone Enabling Works
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.
Large Project Award: over £5 million
A66 Elton Interchange
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A66 Elton Interchange
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.
Small Project Award
Whitburn Conservation Centre - Highly commended
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Whitburn Conservation Centre
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.
Small Project Award
Cawledge Viaduct Refurbishment - Special Award
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Cawledge Viaduct Refurbishment
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.
Medium Project Award
Hexham Industrial Estates FAS - Highly commended
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Hexham Industrial Estates FAS
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.
Medium Project Award
Mandale Bridge - Highly commended
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Mandale Bridge
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
Lucy Davison
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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 Ambassador of the Year
David Olive
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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
Kirils Holstov
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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
Robert Chesney, Meshi Taka, Paula McMahon and Kate Cairns
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ICE's president's gifts
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.