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This award recognises initiatives introduced or championed within the tunnelling industry which have enabled a project or programme team to deliver improved performance with respect to the health, safety and wellbeing of the workforce. This can include a specific initiative or system, a change to working culture, or an innovation in safety management or design for safety.

The entry should demonstrate how the initiative led to a measurable improvement in health, safety or wellbeing on a project or company culture, whether through a reduction in incidents or near-misses, improved occupational health outcomes, or a demonstrable boost to workforce morale and wellbeing.

The entry should relate to an initiative that was championed between January 2024 and July 2026.

Judges will look for an initiative being applied in a project or programme that:

• Involved dialogue and input with the workforce to fully understand the risks and challenges being addressed
• Shows the drivers for adoption, a willingness to learn and improve, and how barriers to implementation were overcome
• References industry-leading examples either from within the tunnelling sector or another industry, with evidence of what was adopted and why
• Has been embedded into working practices and the supply chain, with workforce or stakeholder endorsement confirming its impact
• Demonstrates a clear step change beyond compliance with existing regulations, and the wider application of lessons learned

What will not score well: generic corporate safety statistics without a specific named initiative, or submissions focused solely on meeting existing regulatory requirements rather than advancing beyond them.

This award recognises initiatives introduced or championed within the tunnelling industry which have delivered a quantified improvement in sustainability, reduced carbon emissions, lowered the embodied carbon of a project or programme or made progress towards net zero. The initiative should go beyond standard regulatory compliance and industry norms, demonstrating a genuine commitment to decarbonisation or environmental improvement.

The entry should demonstrate how the initiative delivered measurable, verified outcomes, whether through lowering emissions during the construction phase, using alternative materials to reduce embodied carbon, improving whole-life performance in terms of in-use carbon, or having a wider positive impact on biodiversity and the environment. Entries should include a clear baseline comparison and, where possible, third-party verification, an independent audit or client endorsement confirming the results achieved.

The entry should relate to an initiative that was championed between January 2024 and July 2026.

Judges will look for evidence of an initiative that demonstrates:

• Working with external stakeholders and local organisations from an early stage to understand and respond to the needs of the community, not simply to consult them
• Clear goals that drove legacy-focused initiatives throughout the project lifecycle, with evidence of how those goals shaped decision-making on site
• Social value delivered across areas such as employment, environment, education or community infrastructure, with measurable outcomes rather than intentions
• Repeatability and transferability of the approach, with lessons that could be applied to future tunnelling projects

What will not score well: generic corporate social responsibility narrative not tied to a specific tunnelling project; or submissions where legacy outcomes were incidental to the project rather than a deliberate and documented goal from the start.

This award recognises a company or project team that has created a lasting legacy for the local community as a result of a tunnelling project. This legacy can be through improvements to the local environment, social infrastructure, career development opportunities for people living in the region, or any other significant and measurable impact in social value.

The entry should demonstrate that legacy was not an afterthought but a deliberate goal, with defined outcomes targeted from the outset, clear initiatives put in place to deliver them, and measurable evidence that they were achieved. Entries should include a community impact assessment or social value data, and wherever possible a stakeholder or community endorsement confirming the legacy created.

The entry should relate to a project that was substantially completed between January 2024 and July 2026.

Judges will look for evidence of an initiative that demonstrates:

• Working with external stakeholders and local organisations from an early stage to understand and respond to the needs of the community, not simply to consult them
• Clear goals that drove legacy-focused initiatives throughout the project lifecycle, with evidence of how those goals shaped decision-making on site
• Social value delivered across areas such as employment, environment, education or community infrastructure, with measurable outcomes rather than intentions
• Repeatability and transferability of the approach, with lessons that could be applied to future tunnelling projects

What will not score well: generic corporate social responsibility narrative not tied to a specific tunnelling project; or submissions where legacy outcomes were incidental to the project rather than a deliberate and documented goal from the start.

This award seeks to recognise excellence in the delivery of a tunnelling project or tunnelling-related element of a project up to the value of $150M that was completed between January 2024 and July 2026.

Judges will be looking to reward the project that best demonstrates efficient, high-quality delivery relative to its scale and constraints, meeting or exceeding the design brief and client expectations while also advancing industry best practice. Entries should include defined project scope, value and delivery timeline, with clear performance data against target, a client testimonial or third-party validation confirming the outcome achieved.

Judges will be looking for schemes that can demonstrate:

• Client satisfaction with clear evidence of the project meeting the brief, and value for money relative to the scale and complexity of the works
• High quality of design and clear resolution of specific engineering or ground-related challenges encountered during delivery, with evidence of the approach taken and the outcome
• Excellence in delivery including effective programme management, and the use of innovative or industry advancing construction methods
• Clear evidence of team working to create a collaborative and inclusive culture across the project team and supply chain
• Effective stakeholder and community management throughout the works
• Evidence of efforts to improve sustainable use of materials and methodologies

What will not score well: projects with a total value over $150M, which should be entered into the major project category; or submissions that do not identify a specific engineering challenge or measurable delivery achievement.

This award seeks to recognise excellence in the delivery of a tunnelling project or tunnelling-related element of a project with a value of over $150M that was completed between January 2024 and July 2026.

Judges will be looking to reward the project that best demonstrates exemplary programme and cost management at scale. Meeting or exceeding the design brief and client expectations while advancing industry best practice through technical complexity, collaborative delivery and positive environmental and community outcomes. Entries should include measurable performance data covering cost and programme outturn, safety record and quality outcomes, along with evidence of the specific engineering or delivery challenges overcome and the approach taken to resolve them. Third-party or client validation, or an independent performance assessment, should be included where available.

Judges will be looking for schemes that can demonstrate:

• Client satisfaction with clear evidence of the project meeting the brief, alongside exemplary cost and programme management relative to the scale and complexity of the works
• Demonstrable technical complexity and the quality of engineering solutions applied, with evidence of how specific ground-related or delivery challenges were identified and overcome
• Collaborative delivery across client, designer and contractor that broke down traditional contractual barriers, with clear evidence of how the team worked together to advance industry best practice
• Clear evidence of team working to create a collaborative and inclusive culture across the project team and supply chain, with efforts to improve skills and diversity in the workforce
• Positive community, environmental and sustainability outcomes delivered on the project, with evidence of sustainable use of materials and methodologies

What will not score well: projects where the submission cannot demonstrate completion or substantial progress toward completion; or generic corporate narrative not tied to a specific project with clearly defined scope and outcomes.

This award recognises excellence in the delivery of small-diameter tunnelling, microtunnelling, horizontal directional drilling and utility crossing schemes, completed between January 2024 and July 2026.

Judges will be looking to reward projects that demonstrate that scale does not limit ambition, where teams have brought genuine innovation, technical rigour and delivery excellence to constrained or challenging schemes. Entries should clearly state project value and scope, with performance data against programme and budget, evidence of how specific technical or logistical challenges were overcome, and client or operator confirmation of the outcomes delivered.

Judges will be looking for schemes that can demonstrate:

• Delivery excellence on a constrained or technically challenging small-diameter scheme, with clear evidence of performance against programme, cost and safety targets
• Innovation in approach relative to the scale of the project and resources available, whether in method, sequencing, equipment selection or problem-solving on site
• Effective use of trenchless methods to reduce community disruption, minimise surface impact or protect the environment, with evidence of the difference this made compared to alternative approaches
• Efficiency and value for money on utility, water, energy or transport schemes, with client or operator endorsement confirming satisfaction with the outcome

What will not score well: submissions that are primarily product or equipment showcases without clear evidence of construction delivery performance on a named project.

This category recognises projects that are driving the use of innovative methods, smart technologies and novel design thinking within the tunnelling industry to improve the design of tunnelling work. The innovation could reduce risk to the programme, cost, help create a better outcome for the client over the lifespan of the asset, or advance the state of practice in a way that benefits the wider industry.

The entry should relate to an innovation that was used on a specific tunnel or shaft project between January 2024 and July 2026.

Entries should provide a clear description of what the innovation replaces or improves upon, with measurable outcomes, whether in cost, programme, safety improvement or risk reduction and evidence of peer review, client validation or external independent assessment where available.

Judges will be looking for entries that can demonstrate:

• A novel design approach or methodology that advances the state of practice, with a clear explanation of the specific challenge it was developed to solve and how it differs from business as usual
• Demonstrable benefit over previous or conventional approaches, with measurable outcomes and details of the results achieved and feedback received from the project team or client
• The process driving development of the innovation, the research involved, investment required and how the concept was tested and validated before or during application on the project
• Application of emerging tools or techniques such as AI, digital modelling or advanced ground risk assessment, or a contribution to published guidance, standards or industry knowledge sharing that demonstrates the potential to change the industry for the better

What will not score well: Incremental improvements to existing standard practice that do not represent a clear and demonstrable advance; or digital tools that are primarily commercial software products being applied in a conventional way, rather than genuine engineering innovations developed to solve a specific problem.

This category recognises innovation in how tunnels and shafts are built, delivered and managed through to on site work. The work could involve new construction methods, logistics optimisation, sequencing improvements, advances in programme efficiency or a step change in on-site safety, but the defining test is that the innovation was applied in the field and produced measurable results.

The entry should relate to an innovation that was implemented on a specific project between January 2024 and July 2026.

Entries should provide a clear description of the specific problem the innovation was developed to solve, how it was implemented on site, and before-and-after performance data demonstrating the impact, whether in programme savings, cost reduction, safety improvement or waste reduction.

Judges will be looking for entries that can demonstrate:

• A construction or delivery innovation that demonstrably improved productivity, cost or programme outcomes, with a clear explanation of the challenge it was designed to address and how it differed from the approach that would otherwise have been taken
• New approaches to logistics, materials handling, sequencing or supply chain management during construction, including how the idea was developed, the investment required to implement it and the results it produced
• Improved on-site safety systems or practices achieved through engineering, automation or process change, with evidence of measurable reduction in risk, incidents or near-misses as a result
• Quantified improvement over the previous approach, with before-and-after evidence, and a credible case for scalability or transferability of the innovation to other projects or tunnelling contexts

What will not score well: product or equipment showcases that do not demonstrate direct construction delivery impact on a named project; or innovations confined to back-office, corporate or procurement processes with no evidence of application on a project.

This category aims to reward a significant technical step change that has helped a company in tunnelling improve its performance or delivery of a challenging element of a project. Unlike the design and supply chain collaboration categories, this award is deliberately broad, open to any domain of tunnelling practice, from new materials and monitoring systems to specialist plant, emerging technology or novel procedures, provided the innovation has been applied in the field and produced proven, quantified results.

Entrants may have achieved their technical innovation through a new approach to design, new techniques or procedures, or the application of new technology or materials, provided the advance goes clearly beyond current industry standard and has the potential to reshape future practice. Entries should include a clear technical description of the innovation accessible to a non-specialist member of the judging panel, field application data and quantified results from deployment on a live project, and a comparison with existing approaches explaining why previous methods were insufficient.

The entry should relate to an innovation that was applied between January 2024 and July 2026.

Judges will be looking for entries that can demonstrate:

• A significant technical step change in any domain of tunnelling practice, with a clear explanation of the specific challenge or limitation it was developed to address and how it differs from what came before
• Application of new technology, materials or monitoring systems on a live project, with field results and quantified outcomes — whether in cost reduction, programme efficiency, safety improvement or environmental performance
• Collaboration with clients or other project partners to develop and validate the solution, with evidence of independent performance assessment or client endorsement confirming the results achieved
• A demonstrable advance beyond the current industry standard, with a credible case for how the innovation could enable previously challenging projects or concepts to be delivered at lower risk and benefit future project delivery

What will not score well: laboratory or theoretical work without field application and real-world results on a named project; or product marketing submissions that rely on manufacturer claims rather than independent performance evidence or client validation.

This category recognises projects that are driving the use of innovative methods, smart technologies and novel approaches within the tunnelling industry to improve the final stages of tunnel construction or to maximise the lifespan, reliability and in-service performance of the asset during its operational phase. The innovation could reduce cost, disruption or risk during maintenance, extend the working life of the asset, or represent a genuine step change in how fit-out, refurbishment or asset management is planned and delivered.

The entry should relate to an innovation that was used between January 2024 and July 2026.

Entries should provide a clear description of the specific challenge the innovation was developed to solve, quantified outcomes demonstrating improvement over previous or conventional approaches, and evidence of the development process, including the research involved and the investment required to bring the idea to implementation.

Judges will be looking for entries that can demonstrate:

• A novel approach to fit-out, refurbishment or asset management that advances current practice, with a clear explanation of the specific challenge it was designed to address and how it differs from business as usual
• Application of technology or process change that reduces cost, disruption or risk during operational maintenance, or delivers a demonstrable extension of asset lifespan or improvement in in-service performance
• Innovation in how maintenance is planned, scheduled or executed to minimise programme impact, whether through new sequencing, predictive approaches, automation or smarter use of data, with details of results and feedback from the asset owner or operator
• The potential to change the industry for the better, with a credible case for how the approach could be applied to other assets or schemes and what the wider benefit to the tunnelling sector could be

What will not score well: routine maintenance activities undertaken within standard contractual obligations that do not represent a distinct innovation; or submissions that describe a conventional programme of works without identifying a specific and evidenced advance beyond business-as-usual practice.

This award seeks to recognise a multi-disciplinary team involved in the construction of tunnels or tunnelling-related infrastructure that has worked collaboratively and effectively across client, design and construction roles to deliver an outstanding tunnelling outcome. The award celebrates teams where collaborative behaviours were not just encouraged but actively broke down traditional contractual barriers, creating a unified culture that directly improved project performance.

It is open to an entire project team or a team focused on a specific area within a project or programme. Team members could be drawn from one company, a joint venture or a multi-company alliance but entries must demonstrate genuine cross-organisational collaboration rather than the performance of a single organisation working in isolation.

The entry should relate to work that took place between January 2024 and July 2026.

Entries should identify named team members, their respective organisations, roles and contribution to the shared outcome, with specific examples of collaborative decision making that differed from standard contractual practice, and delivery metrics or client endorsement confirming the impact the team approach had on the project.

Judges will be looking for entries that can demonstrate:

• Collaborative behaviours that broke down traditional contractual barriers and created a unified culture across the team and supply chain, with evidence of how shared goals and cultural behaviours were established and maintained throughout the project
• Shared problem-solving and innovation across the team that directly improved project outcomes, with specific examples of collaborative decision-making and how these differed from what would typically have happened under a conventional delivery model
• Measurable delivery performance, across cost, programme, safety and quality, that is clearly attributable to the team approach, supported by client or programme-level endorsement confirming the impact
• An inclusive team culture with evidence of specific initiatives deployed to improve diversity, environmental performance or workforce upskilling, and the wider lessons the team's approach holds for future projects

What will not score well: entries that make generic statements about good teamwork without specific project evidence, named individuals and measurable performance data to support them.

This award is open to any specialist supplier working with companies that design or construct tunnels or deliver tunnelling-related infrastructure. You could be providing a specialist product, material, software, professional service or technical advice that supports the tunnelling work itself or the skills needed to deliver it.

Your company must have supplied your service to a tunnelling project or projects between January 2024 and July 2026.

The project or projects need not be complete, but entries must reference a specific scheme or programme and provide evidence of the value delivered, including client or project team endorsement confirming the impact of your contribution.

Judges will be looking for entries that can demonstrate:

• A clearly articulated specialist service with a demonstrable industry problem it solves, and a compelling explanation of why your approach is distinct from what is already available in the market
• Evidence of working collaboratively with project teams to focus on outcomes rather than outputs, showing how you adapt your service to the specific needs of the project and its stakeholders rather than delivering a standard off-the-shelf solution
• Innovation in the service, product or approach that challenges existing industry practice, with specific detail on what has changed, why it represents an advance, and how it has been received by the project team or wider industry
• Specific results achieved on a named project or projects, including measurable feedback from satisfied clients or partners that confirms the value your contribution delivered

What will not score well: submissions that do not reference a specific tunnelling project or programme within the eligible period; or entries that read primarily as product catalogues or capability statements without evidence of project-level impact and client endorsement.

Nominations for this award are sought to recognise an individual who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to the tunnelling industry, demonstrating leadership, inspiration and influence that extends beyond any single project or employer.

Judges will focus on the personal contribution made by the individual, who can be involved in any area of the tunnelling industry, from project planning to design, construction or maintenance, and at any stage of their career. The contribution can have been made through technical, commercial, policy or educational channels, but it must be demonstrably wider than achievement on a single scheme and must have had a meaningful impact on the industry, its people or its practices.

Judges will be looking for an individual whose significant contribution has been made across a distinguished career.

Entries should include a career summary and key contributions of no more than two pages, evidence of impact across the industry beyond individual employers or projects, and endorsements from up to three industry peers confirming the nature and wider influence of the contribution.

Judges will look for evidence of the individual's impact on the global tunnelling industry in areas such as:

• Sustained industry leadership through technical, commercial, policy or educational channels, with evidence of how that leadership has shaped practice, people or the direction of the sector
• Involvement in significant tunnelling projects or programmes where the individual's personal contribution made a demonstrable difference beyond what would otherwise have been achieved
• Support for the adoption of innovative techniques, an entrepreneurial approach to their work, and a track record of solving complex problems or challenges that others have found intractable
• Inspiration and active mentorship of future generations of tunnelling professionals, with evidence of the individuals they have supported and the impact that support has had
• A personal commitment to improving the tunnelling industry and its workforce, and a wider legacy that extends beyond their own organisation or the projects they have worked on

Nominations for this award are sought to celebrate an outstanding young tunnelling professional who, while still developing and deepening their experience in the industry, has made a significant and demonstrable contribution through technical excellence, leadership, innovation or advocacy going clearly above and beyond what would be expected at their level of seniority and experience.

Judges will focus on the personal contribution made by the individual to bring innovative ideas or initiatives to life, challenge normal practices or play a key role in the delivery of technically complex work on a tunnelling project. The individual could also have championed improvements in health, safety and wellbeing, put significant effort into STEM outreach in the communities in which they work, or played a meaningful part in advancing diversity and inclusivity within their organisation or the wider industry.

The entrant must have no more than 10 years' tunnelling industry experience at the time of entry.

Entries must be backed by two independent referees and should include a CV or profile summary of no more than one page confirming years of industry experience, with specific examples of contribution and measurable outcomes on a named project.

The entry should relate to a contribution made between January 2024 and July 2026.

Judges will look for evidence of the individual's ability to:

• Drive a team, project or business to technical or commercial success, with measurable outcomes that demonstrate an impact beyond what would typically be expected from someone at their stage of career
• Deliver beyond the client's expectation on a project, with specific examples of where their personal contribution made a difference and endorsement from two independent senior industry professionals who can speak to the quality and significance of that contribution
• Improve the tunnelling industry through their own personal commitment and ideas — whether through mentoring and knowledge-sharing, STEM outreach and community engagement, or innovation and advocacy that has had a demonstrable impact beyond their immediate project team
• Show the potential and ambition to become a future leader in the tunnelling sector, with a credible case for the legacy their early career contribution is already beginning to create for the wider industry

What will not score well: candidates with more than 10 years' tunnelling industry experience at the time of entry; or submissions focused primarily on academic achievement without clear evidence of practical industry application and measurable real-world impact on a named project.

This award seeks to recognise a company, project team or training provider that has made a tangible and measurable contribution to learning, workforce development or knowledge transfer within the tunnelling industry. The award addresses one of the most significant challenges facing the sector, the skills pipeline, and seeks to celebrate those who are doing something genuinely impactful to build tunnelling capability for the future, whether through structured training delivered on a live project, industry-academic collaboration or a knowledge transfer initiative that addresses an identified skills gap.

Entries should demonstrate that learning and development was treated as a deliberate investment rather than a compliance exercise, with clear goals, a structured programme and measurable outcomes for the individuals involved. Entries should include the number of people trained, their roles, and evidence of outcomes including qualifications gained, progression achieved and participant testimonials.

The programme or initiative should have been active between January 2026 and July 2026.

Judges will be looking for entries that can demonstrate:

• Tangible and measurable investment in apprentices, graduates, technicians or experienced workers on a tunnelling project or programme, with a clear description of how the training was structured and how it was embedded in live project delivery rather than delivered in isolation from the work itself
• Structured training or development activity that builds lasting and transferable skills for the tunnelling sector, with evidence of what participants could do after the programme that they could not do before, and how that capability is being retained and applied
• Industry-academic or cross-sector collaboration that has produced practical tunnelling expertise, filled an identified skills gap, or created a model that others in the industry could adopt and build on
• A commitment to knowledge transfer that extends beyond the originating project or organisation, with a credible case for how the approach creates a legacy for the wider industry and contributes to building the next generation of tunnelling professionals

What will not score well: generic HR or corporate training programmes not specific to tunnelling knowledge and skills; or entries without evidence of applied impact on the participants and the project they were working on.