Judges confirmed for DfT Special Recognition Awards

The judges have been announced for this year’s DfT Special Recognition Awards – with a senior representative from the Department highlighting the event’s key role in showcasing the outstanding work taking place across the sector.

The Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) are proud to be hosting the prestigious Special Recognition Awards on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT), which were established by the late Steve Berry OBE, the Department for Transport’s former Head of Highways Maintenance, Innovation and Resilience. The awards recognise companies and individuals who have gone the extra mile to deliver change in the sector.

Matthew Eglinton, Head of Local Highways Policy, Highways, Active Travel and Strategy, Roads and Local Group, Department for Transport commented: ”Recognising and rewarding organisations and individuals who have gone the extra mile to deliver change in the highway sector is important and I am delighted to continue supporting these awards. The Department for Transport (DfT) has supported the awards since 2019 and it is encouraging to see how this event has grown over time – now firmly established in the calendar and running alongside Strictly Highways. I welcome the introduction of new categories that aim to recognise both outstanding apprentices, and an employer that has gone above and beyond to provide employment opportunities within the sector.”

The deadline for entering is Monday 11th September 2023 at 5pm.

The judges are:

• Matthew Eglinton – Head of Local Highways Policy, Highways, Active Travel and Strategy, Roads and Local Group, Department for Transport
• Darren Capes – Intelligent Transport Systems Policy Lead, Department for Transport
• Paul Boss – Chief Executive Officer, Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA)
• Paula Claytonsmith, Chief Executive, Local Council Roads Innovation Group
• Dr Joanna White, Roads Development Divisional Director, National Highways
• Kerry Winstanley, Finance and Operations Director, Local Council Roads Innovation Group
• Joseph Davidson, Project Officer – Land and Maritime Transport, Innovate UK

The winners will be announced at the DfT Special Recognition Awards ceremony on the evening of 4th October. The awards form part of Strictly Highways, which will take place from 3-5 October in The Ballroom at Winter Gardens, Blackpool, and are a fantastic way to generate positive publicity, enhance your company profile, reward team success and network.

If you would like to nominate a colleague, project or initiative that has gone the extra mile, you can submit your entries on the event platform HERE

This year’s award categories are:

Best use of technology in the Highways and Transportation sector – sponsored by Stabilised Pavements Ltd 

This award will provide recognition to an organisation or partnership that can demonstrate the best use of technology within the highways and transportation sector.

The Transport Technology Innovation award – sponsored by the Transport Technology Forum (TTF) 

This award will recognise transformative innovations that will successfully address the evolving demands and future challenges faced by the highways and transportation sector.

Collaborative Partnership (between council(s) and supply chain) – sponsored by Tensar 

This award will provide recognition to outstanding partnerships, collaborations, or joint initiatives that have significantly contributed to the advancement and improvement of the highways and transportation sector.

Net Zero Project of the Year – sponsored by JCB 

This award will recognise an outstanding innovation project delivered by an organisation/partnership that has demonstrably contributed to accelerating or reducing the cost of decarbonisation. The project will evidence a reduction in environmental impacts, managing embedded carbon within construction and reducing air pollution.

Employer Initiative of the Year award – sponsored by WJ Group 

This award will recognise an outstanding initiative delivered by an organisation that has demonstrably contributed to supporting the retention of employees and/or encouraged new employees into the sector. The initiative may also have demonstrated a wider social value impact, e.g. through creating employment opportunities within local communities.

Highways Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Gaist

The Highways Apprentice of the Year Award aims to recognise and celebrate outstanding apprentices who have made significant contributions and have had a positive impact on their course, their workplace or the wider highways sector during their apprenticeship. This prestigious award acknowledges the dedication, skills and commitment demonstrated by apprentices as they progress in their career.

Best of Britain Award – sponsored by Multevo 

This award, inspired by Will Britain, the founder of LCRIG, was introduced in 2022 to celebrate a public sector individual that works on the officer or Manager side of a local authority. We know there a number of people in these roles that often have to balance, public, political, financial and community challenges but regardless of this they try and find the best solutions for their local community and do so with a passion to make things better. We want to celebrate those that have gone above and beyond to engage with their local community, improve local services, change local perceptions or play a key part in the sector.

Entries are now open!

Please visit the Strictly Highways event website HERE to view the award criteria and submit your entries.

The DfT Special Recognition Awards are open to all.

Please note: Winning entries will be required to be represented at the awards ceremony.  Individual places at the awards ceremony are still available. For more information, please contact us.

Public sector fully-funded places still available!

To find out more and book your place, please visit the Strictly Highways website here.