The annual awards celebrated civil and infrastructure engineering talent from across the region.
From flood risk management to cutting-edge research on buried pipes, water schemes dominated the project categories at the 2026 ICE West Midlands Awards.
Celebrating engineering brilliance across the region, over 200 guests gathered at Grand Station, Wolverhampton to mark the occasion, where they also heard from Lizzie Daly, scientist, explorer, presenter and filmmaker.
Project award winners
Bewdley Flood Risk Management Scheme
Standing out this year, the Bewdley Flood Risk Management Scheme – delivered by Arup, Environment Agency and Jackson Civil Engineering – was recognised in five award categories.
Winning the Medium Project Award and Heritage Award, the scheme was also highly commended in:
- the Team Achievement Award;
- the Carbon and Sustainability Award; and
- the new Systems Approach to Infrastructure Delivery (SAID) Award.
The scheme protects the community while preserving historic assets. Through a brick-clad design and careful material selection, it reduced visual impacts on the Grade I-listed Bewdley Bridge.
The project demonstrated a holistic approach to environmental responsibility. For example, by using a hydrogen-powered bubble curtain to protect spawning fish during piling.
Fowlea Brook Flood Risk Management Scheme
The Fowlea Brook Flood Risk Management Scheme, delivered by Jackson Civil Engineering, Environment Agency, Arup, WSP and Binnies, won two awards:
- the Carbon and Sustainability Award; and
- the Team Achievement Award.
Transforming an under-invested location into a national example of low-carbon design and ecological recovery, the scheme sought to upgrade Stoke-on-Trent's flood defences.
The team realised that traditional solutions would be carbon-intensive and adopted a PAS 2080-aligned retrofit strategy instead. The judges were impressed by how the scheme’s stakeholders worked side by side.
Concrete Pipe Installation: a standards-driven study
The University of Birmingham, Mineral Products Association and MFLAV Consult won the Design, Studies and Research Award with their Concrete Pipe Installation, standards-driven study.
The study was praised for delivering one of the first full-scale experiments of large buried pipes in decades. It demonstrated that it's possible to design solutions that reduce costs and carbon emissions while maintaining structural performance.
For advancing industry understanding, the research also won the 2026 ICE West Midlands Overall Project Award – at the judges’ discretion.
To view the full list of winners, visit the ICE West Midlands webpage.
People award winners
The Bob Dunn Award
This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant impact within the region. It was established in memory of the late Bob Dunn, whose contributions greatly advanced the promotion of civil engineering across the West Midlands.
Staffordshire-based civil engineer, Mike Tindale, a lifelong ICE member, received the accolade in recognition of a career spanning more than 50 years.
During that time, he demonstrated consistent technical excellence and a steadfast commitment to the delivery and safeguarding of civil engineering practice across complex infrastructure projects.
Tindale has been involved in numerous schemes in the West Midlands, including major regional infrastructure such as the Hanford Interchange and the Tamworth Southern Bypass
Inspiring seasoned professionals and the next generation alike, his colleagues have described him as a ‘breadth of knowledge’.
Rising Star Award
Hayley Jackson, a pre-construction manager at Coffey Construction Ltd, received the Rising Star Award for her exceptional contribution to promoting civil engineering across the Midlands.
Leading Coffey’s schools and outreach engagement programme, she creates targeted interventions for disadvantaged, underrepresented and underperforming learners.
Through bespoke STEM sessions, tailored educational activities and structured pathways, Jackson gives young people meaningful access to civil engineering.
Technician Award
Birmingham-based Calum Smolak, an apprentice site engineer at JN Bentley, received the Technician Award.
Starting his apprenticeship in September 2024, Smolak has consistently shown a deep commitment to his professional development and the wider civil engineering community.
Judges commended Smolak for his ability to embrace new opportunities to broaden his understanding of project delivery, commercial awareness and engineering management.
STEM Ambassador of the Year 2026 Award
Fatima Almaarofi, a Birmingham-based interface manager at SYSTRA Ltd UK, won the regional STEM Ambassador of the Year Award for her dedication to strengthening the visibility of civil engineering across schools, colleges and community settings.
Almaarofi has volunteered at over 10 different types of career days over the last year and participated in the GirlGuiding Midlands Magical event which attracted a whopping 6,500 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers.
The judges collectively commended Almaarofi’s enthusiasm for STEM activities across the region.
The 2026 ICE West Midlands Awards were supported by headline sponsor Taylor Woodrow and category sponsors SEMP and BEWI.
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