Research Innovation Sustainability Enterprise (RISE) Awards 2026

One Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London, UK

Wednesday 2nd September 2026

Download our flyer here: RISE Awards 2026.pdf

Leeds Beckett University, The University of Suffolk, The University of the West of England, Bristol, Loughborough University and MLA College are delighted to present the 2026 RISE Awards, kindly sponsored by Global Education (GEDU), which holds stewardship of CIFAL London.

These highly regarded awards seek to recognise, celebrate and showcase exemplar case studies from the Built Environment sharing emerging best practice in Research, Innovation, Sustainability and Enterprise for new and innovative products, technologies, processes, projects and schemes. Celebrating diversity and the unique skills, knowledge and perspectives that different groups bring to the field is at the heart of the RISE awards; bringing together academic, industry, third sector and community groups in a unique celebration of all those who are helping to change the way we build and live in the future.

Submissions are encouraged across 12 different categories and poster entries are FREE. Previous winners have come from an array of environmental specialisms, across various companies and professions, from diverse backgrounds – what matters to us is that entrants display the passion and dedication to do things better, pushing industry forward and driving up standards.

The closing date for entries is Monday 25th May 2026 with the winners being notified in the week commencing Monday 08th June.

Awards will be presented at the prestigious gala presentation evening on Wednesday 2nd September 2026 at One Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London.

The RISE Awards are an opportunity for you to showcase your initiatives with your peers and bring your expertise to a new audience. The awards dinner provides an opportunity to develop future industry, academic and third sector collaborations.

HOW TO ENTER

Entries can be made for a project, process, product or a service. To enter, please produce an A2 sized poster outlining your product, process, project or service that addresses one or more of the category themes detailed below. Your poster should include text, images and, where possible, facts and figures that will provide the judges with tangible evidence of performance and outcomes against your strategic aims.

Key Points to think about for your poster submission:

• What need did the product, process, project or service fill

• Why is it different/ special/ unique?

• What challenges were faced and how were they overcome?

• What did it achieve? What are the current and future benefits?

Please send in your A2 posters to LSIConference@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Poster Themes:

 

Award	Category	Descriptions/Entry Requirements/Examples
1	Field and Laboratory Research	Entries could include: Work on Products, Components  Buildings, Engineering Systems; Manufacturing , Building Services and Energy Management Systems.
2	Design, Innovation and Creativity	Entries could include: Design, Innovation and Creativity within sustainability, across commerce and third sector services
3	New Technologies and  Materials	Entries could include innovative use of digital technologies, systems and materials.
4	Sustainable Developments	Entries could include: Energy and Resource Efficiency, Building Performance, Renewables, Energy Generation, Services and Building Systems, Building Materials and Processes, Wind, Solar, Hydro, Biomass, Geothermal and Energy.
5	Heritage Award for Restoration/Retrofit	Entries could include: Restoration, Heritage Construction and Traditional Building methods, Energy Efficiency, Planning for Whole-life Sustainability .
6	Behaviour Change	The judges are looking for change that creates a positive impact on behaviour, culture or sustainable practice..
7	Social Value	The winner will be the organisation that best demonstrates its ability to bring value and benefit to society.
8	Enterprise	Entries are encouraged from organisations and groups that demonstrate a commitment to embedding enterprise, knowledge and understanding in the field and practice
9	Collaborative Working	The winner will be the project that best demonstrates teamwork through early involvement of stakeholders, cross team collaboration, strong communication (and tools used where applicable, e.g. BIM) and full team integration.
10	Education and Training	Entries are encouraged from organisation committed to and implementing education and training that underpins the development of knowledge and skills equipping the workforce and society for the future.
11	Fire and Safety	Never before has the integrity of our buildings and their ability to withstand the impact of fire, explosions and resist the passage of smoke been so important.  Entries are encouraged from those developing products, processes and systems that contribute to more sustainable, resilient and safe buildings and practice.
12	Health, Safety and Wellbeing	Though constant efforts are made to improve standards, our industry remains one of the most dangerous in which to work. Processes and systems that improve health and safety are sought as well as innovation that enhances the quality of life of the construction worker. Where new ground has been broken with regard to the health and safety of the construction worker and professionals, evidence of this will be rewarded.