AE Yates
The A E Yates Group is a family of companies focused on delivering integrated, sustainable civil engineering and ground engineering to the benefit of all.
Each year, our awards showcase your work - celebrating your talents as civil engineers and highlighting the benefits you bring to communities across the North West region.
Our 2024 awards
Over 300 professionals joined us to celebrate civil engineering successes from across the North West region. We received over 40 award entries across nine categories, with all projects needing to specify which of the UN SDGs applied to their project.
The winners below were announced at our awards dinner in May.
Our 2024 awards sponsors
With thanks to our sponsors of this years awards. Find out more about becoming an award sponsor.
Civic Engineers
We continue to be at the forefront of engineering design, creating inspirational structures and places that have a positive impact on the environment.
Mott MacDonald
We’re a global engineering, management and development consultancy focused on guiding our clients through many of the planet’s most intricate challenges.
Richter
Richter is a firm of consulting civil, structural and geotechnical engineers dedicated to excellence in design and construction. Founded in 1990, Richter specialises in temporary works design.
Tensar
Tensar Corporation provides customized, technology-based solutions for common site development applications on a global basis.
Temporary Works Forum
The Temporary Works Forum (TWf) aims to encourage open discussion of any matter related to temporary works.
Waterman Aspen
Waterman Aspen welcomes engineers and technical specialists to make their mark on some of the biggest infrastructure projects across the UK on a secondment basis.
Our 2024 awards winners
Our awards are split into two main categories, projects and people. See all our winners below.
Project awards
Ranging from a future resilience award and a constructability award to multi-million-pound projects, these awards celebrate innovative projects across our region.
Fairness Inclusion and Respect Award
Building Equality
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Building Equality
Building Equality is a volunteer-led LGBTQ+ alliance of more than 60 construction, engineering and built-environment organisations. They have created industry-leading educational materials aimed at promoting inclusion in the workplace, in addition to participating in joint initiatives to support LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Building Equality have developed resources that educate and support both individuals and organisations on LGBTQ+ allyship. Their aim is for these resources to reach and benefit the entire industry through sharing best practice, skills, expertise, and initiatives that educate, empower and open discussions on LGBTQ+ inclusivity.
The Building Equality Greater Manchester branch have developed the following resources: LGBTQ+ Allies Toolbox Talk, Trans Allyship Toolbox Talk, Tackling Microaggressions – Poster Campaign, and Setting up your LGBTQ+ Network – Guidance Pack.
These resources are publicly available and have been downloaded more than 3,000 times. One of the more popular resources, the LGBTQ+ Allies Toolbox Talk, has received national exposure and has been delivered both internally at member organisations and virtually to over 120 organisations.
Notably, Building Equality’s resources have also reached beyond their industry, with employees from local government, education, insurance, and third sector organisations attending their LGBTQ+ Allies Toolbox Talk webinars.
Future Resilience Award
Kirkstone and Cauldale Beck River Restoration
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Kirkstone and Cauldale Beck River Restoration
Rooted in addressing the aftermath of severe flooding events in the Ullswater Valley, the goal of this project was to enhance system resilience through restoring natural watercourses – providing Hartsop Hall Farm and local businesses with improved flood protection.
The river restoration plan involved re-engineering Kirkstone, Cauldale and Dovedale Beck watercourses to a wandering channel system while maintaining flood resilience – the first of its kind in the UK. In-river islands, riffles, boulder bars, rapids and careful excavation around existing trees demonstrate a nuanced approach to using large wood to enhance river dynamics.
The project managed logistical challenges well, including a closed main road and tight site access. They also managed detours over Kirkstone Pass, traffic control strategies and strategic planning during adverse weather conditions. The team received positive feedback from local stakeholders for their transparent communication.
The most evident impact of the project is the rejuvenation of the riverine ecosystem. Restoring the natural form and function of Kirkstone, Cauldale and Dovedale Becks has contributed to the creation of a diverse and self-sustaining system of dynamic features and habitats. The overall ecological health of the waterways and floodplain has improved, fostering biodiversity and promoting a resilient ecosystem.
Project team: National Trust, Dynamic Rivers, AquaUoS, Tweddell & Slater, Cubby Construction, JBA Consulting
Constructability Award
A533 Expressway Bridge Replacement
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A533 Expressway Bridge Replacement
Innovative design and well-thought-out construction enabled the delivery of a safe, speedy and cost-effective replacement for one of the UK’s most vulnerable bridges.
The project’s objective was to safely replace the temporarily propped A533 expressway bridge crossing the M56 – a high risk structure. A tightly managed programme was key to ensuring a suitable alternative provision was in place as soon as possible, while keeping costs minimal.
Using experience from delivering a previous framework scheme, Amey Sir Robert McAlpine operated on multiple concurrent construction fronts: 2 abutments, centre pier and bridge deck. They adopted an off-site manufacturing strategy and built the bridge deck on a compound in the vicinity of the site, moving it into place during a single weekend using self-propelled modular transporters.
The Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) deployed saved three months, when compared to traditional lift and fit techniques of bridge girders and in-situ deck casting.
The success of the project was aided by a complex remote monitoring system and protocol established for the existing life-expired bridge, so it could be kept safely in service during the construction. The bridge was decommissioned and demolished ahead of programme – 50% faster than anticipated – with no detriment to the adjacent west coast mainline railway bridge or the new A533 expressway bridge five metres away.
Project team: National Highways, Amey Sir Robert McAlpine, WSP, Sarens, Briton Fabricators, USL Ekspan, MPB Structures Ltd, Cass Hayward, Bauer Technologies, GeoTechnical Experts Ltd, Huyton Asphalt Ltd, HA Civils, McCann Ltd, Versco, PP O’Connor, ATM
Small Project Award
TransPennine Route Upgrade – Ashton Corridor Electrical Protection
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TransPennine Route Upgrade – Ashton Corridor Electrical Protection
To safely electrify the TransPennine Route, the project team developed a holistic risk methodology to redesign the electrical protection works for three bridges in Ashton-Under-Lyne. They reduced carbon, cost and visual impact, and created innovative near-horizontal screens.
The bridges in the Ashton Corridor form an integral piece of public infrastructure – two of which date back to 1848. To understand and quantify the risks for these old bridges and how they could be mitigated, the team worked collaboratively with security, overhead line designers, the construction team, CSM and the principal designer’s representatives. From this, they agreed an approach which accounted for electrical protection, anti-social behaviour and trespassers.
Through the application of their new approach, the team eliminated works to one structure, and raised the remaining two parapets to 1.5m over the tracks only. This allowed them to retain the historic approach walls, and by minimising the height of the parapet, they were able to have a sympathetic transition from steeple copers to the existing approach walls. The capital cost of the scheme was therefore reduced by 60% and the construction programme was halved.
The structures in the Ashton Corridor will be used as a template to reduce the extent of works between Stalybridge and York, and the development of programme-level guidance by the team will be applied to over 40 structures.
Project team: Network Rail, Tony Gee and Partners, BAM Nuttall, TRU West Alliance, Arup
Medium Project Award
Altrincham Public Realm
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Altrincham Public Realm
This project helped transform Altrincham from a ghost town to the Sunday Times ‘Best Place to Live’. By prioritising active travel, nature-based solutions and climate resilience, the project has provided a better environment for pedestrians, cyclists and biodiversity.
When designing this project, sustainability was a big priority. While the redevelopment of George Street included re-graving and repaving the busy street, it also introduced SuDS features, which contribute to biodiversity while managing surface water runoff. Trees were also utilised to provide surface water run-off treatment through the tree pit itself, while providing storm water storage and a reduction in peak flows.
To limit cost and increase sustainability, the project prioritised the reuse of materials. The pavement design reused existing pavement build ups where possible and was developed across phases to limit the amount of excavation. Doing so limited the importing of material to the site and the disposal of material off site, making for an efficient construction sequence and programme.
Since its completion, the project has achieved numerous benefits, including a notable increase in footfall, use of the town centre, community health and wellbeing, and new business growth. The area has also seen a reduction in crime and vacancy rates.
Project team: Trafford Council, Planit-IE, Civic Engineers, J. Cooney Ltd, Alined Construction Ltd, LK Group, Simon Fenton Partnership LLP
Large Project Award
Greater Manchester Major Trauma Centre
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Greater Manchester Major Trauma Centre
The Greater Manchester Major Trauma Centre is a purpose-built facility for patients requiring urgent care. It has the UK’s first direct-level access rooftop helipad, with lift access to resuscitation, MRI/CT scanning and theatres in under 90 seconds.
The main objective of this new centre is to deliver enhanced trauma care and improve patient outcomes, making its layout extremely important.
The innovative design of the centre features smart adjacencies, and co-locates key services for optimal patient management and collaborative working between clinicians, North West ambulance and air ambulance services. For instance, the hospital now has direct access to the operating theatre from an ambulance and air ambulance, saving time when compared to a traditional linear layout. The hospital also has the UK’s first RAPTOR Hybrid Operating Theatre, where scans, x-rays and surgical procedures are performed in one place, saving time and reducing patient risk.
Sustainability wise, the project team focused on developing an efficient design that minimised carbon in the superstructure, used recycled materials and offered flexibility to end users to respond to potential future changes, such as standardised grid.
The completed project has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating, and the project’s low carbon initiatives equate to 2,388,895kg CO2 embodied carbon saving.
Project team: Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Day Architectural, Mott MacDonald, BAM
Special Recognition Award
The Paterson Cancer Research Centre
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The Paterson Cancer Research Centre
The Paterson Cancer Research Centre provides around 25,000m2 of sustainable, flexible and innovative research and collaboration spaces. It’s direct hospital connection allows patient samples to be in the laboratory within minutes.
With the goal of creating one of the top cancer research centres in the world, the project team developed this brief through extensive stakeholder engagement. After consulting with groups across client organisations, Arup pulled together a suite of technical design notes to enable the stakeholders to make more informed decisions on technical options. Adopting this collaborative approach was key to accelerating the design process.
Design choices were then workshopped against their impact to improve health and safety conditions. This included commissioning additional surveys to explore the cutlines to the existing hospital.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) and digital innovation enhanced delivery excellence by improving design and programme certainty, and experts were regularly on hand to develop the concept through virtual design. The experts also led regular collaboration workshops to embed the values of digital collaboration into the project.
This collective approach delivered a building from which a team of scientists, researchers, clinicians and operational staff will deliver clinical trials – covering the full extent of the patient pathway from prevention and novel treatments, to living with and beyond cancer.
Project Team: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, University of Manchester, Cancer Research UK, BDP, Arup, IHP
Mercer Innovation Award
TransPennine Route Upgrade – Ashton Corridor Electrical Protection
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TransPennine Route Upgrade – Ashton Corridor Electrical Protection
In response to the cost of electrification having a significant impact on local stakeholders, the team developed a risk-based approach to reduce the impact of electrical protection works on existing bridges, two of which were constructed in 1848.
The team developed a Network Rail standard detail for near-horizontal screens to be able to mitigate the risk of mischievous acts causing electrocution on the Ashton Corridor Bridges. The use of these screens, along with the holistic risk assessment methodology developed, reduced the works to the parapets, reducing cost, carbon, and the impact on the local community.
The standard detail was developed with an open-source parametric model to drive a cost-efficient design process for future schemes, enabling the changing parameters to be inputted and the model to automatically adjust within the range approved by the design. The team’s approach also allowed them to minimise the extent of physical works, which resulted in a 72% reduction in embodied carbon.
The design has been extended to numerous other structures across the programme nationwide, such as the electrification between Sheffield and Market Harborough, and will further reduce embedded carbon.
Project team: Network Rail, Tony Gee and Partners, BAM Nuttall, TRU West Alliance, Arup
People awards
ICE North West organises and supports awards that showcase the outstanding achievements of ICE members in the region.
Rising Star Award
Ellie Carter
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Rising Star Award
Ellie Carter is a degree apprentice civil engineer at AtkinsRéalis, working within infrastructure on water projects. She is passionate about developing and learning about sustainable solutions and harnessing digital technologies to improve the way herself and her colleagues work. Ellie is also a STEM ambassador, and actively promotes apprenticeships to young people.
Ellie is passionate about her career and actively puts herself forward for any opportunities to learn and develop herself and others. She enjoys helping others through mentoring and STEM events – especially those promoting apprenticeships – and encouraging women to join the engineering profession. Ellie also organises Graduates, Apprentices, Placements and Secondees (GAPS) talks in the North of England, which gives early careers engineers in the region a chance to practice presentation skills and network.
As a degree apprentice civil engineer, Ellie is encouraged to set goals and pursue interests beyond her core role. Her interests include sustainable development, STEM ambassadorship and digital technologies.
Ellie’s passion for technology led her to win the Degree Apprenticeship of the Year Award and Outstanding Contribution to Net Zero at the New Civil Engineer Graduate and Apprentice Awards 2023. When applying for those awards, Ellie researched company and industry initiatives regarding AI and digital integration. She is now involved in initiatives to improve project delivery through adoption of digital tools and automation.
After working on the Strategic Pipeline Alliance and developing an interactive digital tool to visualise the impacts of design changes on embodied carbon, technical delivery, social value and costs, Ellie was invited onto the AtkinsRéalis Engineering Net Zero taskforce. Here, she is responsible for supporting the development of tools to make carbon management more accessible to everyone in the practice.
STEM Volunteer Award
Alyxandra Murdock
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STEM Volunteer Award
Alyxandra Murdock is a long-serving STEM volunteer, going above and beyond to ensure real and meaningful opportunities for STEM learning are available to all. She has created successful workshops that have been delivered both locally and globally.
Having influenced young children in all types of STEM learning over the past 10 years, Alyxandra has shown a huge commitment to STEM volunteering.
Identifying a gap in the STEM market, Alyxandra developed a workshop for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children (aged 3-5) to introduce the role of a civil engineer. She linked civil engineering practices to the story of the three little pigs and demonstrated how different materials act under the same load. Alyxandra developed the workshop with input from school staff and has delivered this workshop to over 450 EYFS children. Jacobs – her current employer – is in the process of rolling out the workshop so it can be delivered by any of their UK offices.
Alyxandra also created a topical STEM workshop, which was chosen to be delivered at the Dubai COP28 event in 2023. For the three-hour session about carbon, Alyxandra led training sessions via Microsoft Teams for the Dubai-based STEM ambassadors who facilitated the workshop at the climate change event.
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.