Accelerate to Zero Awards open for submissions 

Written By BE-ST

The Accelerate to Zero Awards are back for their fourth year to recognise the businesses, organisations, and individuals making the most significant contributions to decarbonising the built environment and supporting the just transition to a zero carbon built environment.  

This year, the awards will take place on the evening of Thursday, 5th November, at voco Grand Central in Glasgow, following BE-ST Fest West.  

BE-ST Fest, delivered by BE-ST (Built Environment – Smarter Transformation), is the UK’s biggest festival for a zero carbon built environment and plays host to transformative discussion and knowledge exchange on how we can break through barriers to accelerate our journey to net zero. This year, BE-ST is taking the festival on the road, coming directly to communities across Scotland to focus on driving delivery  the real barriers and challenges the built environment faces. With a focus on how we can drive delivery for a zero carbon built environment, BE-ST is hosting four summit events in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dumfries and Inverness.  

The Accelerate to Zero Awards are free to enter and offer a platform to celebrate the progress, innovation and impact being made within the sector.   

BE-ST has already assembled an exciting panel of judges with expertise across the built environment, academic, and innovation sectors. So far, the panel includes:  

  • Parag Cameron-Rastogi – Director of Real Asset Analytics, GRESB 

  • Matthew Clubb – Director, mwclubb 

  • Mat Colmer – Senior Innovation Lead, UKRI 

  • Charlie Forshaw – Construction Lead, Rainmaking 

  • Chiara Fingland – Vice Chair, Built Environment Change Makers and Climate Development Officer, SCVO 

  • Susan Hanlin – Principal Officer of Housing Retrofit, Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability, Glasgow City Council 

  • Sam King – Programme Director (Skills), Lower Thames Crossing 

  • Brogan MacDonald – Head of Sustainability (Building Structures), Ramboll 

  • Simon McWhirter – CEO, UKGBC 

  • Janice Russell – Managing Director, McTaggart Construction 

All the categories from last year are back including the Accelerate to Zero Hero Award which recognises a standout individual or organisation making a remarkable contribution to decarbonising the built environment, chosen by both the judging panel and by a public vote. This year, for the first time, entrants can submit video entries to the Accelerate to Zero Awards.  

Accelerate to Zero Award 2026 categories include:  

  • Accelerate to Zero Hero 

  • Collaborative Partnership Award 

  • The Gamechanger Award 

  • The Diversity & Inclusion Award 

  • The BE Changemaker Award 

  • Circular Economy Award 

  • Technology Impact Award 

  • Skills Impact Award 

  • Retrofit Accelerator Award 

  • Community Champion Award 

The Accelerate to Zero Awards will be open for submissions until 12:00AM 28th August, 2026.  

Submit your application
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BE-ST Fest 2026 hits the road with four regional events across Scotland