Awards Submissions

Download and fill out the relevant form linked below to enter for the 2025 Martin Barnes Awards. Submissions deadline is Friday 14th March.

Awards Submissions<br>

The Martin Barnes NEC Awards celebrate pioneers and visionaries shaping the future of engineering and project management through collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.

Named in honour of Dr. Martin Barnes, whose groundbreaking contributions to the NEC Contracts revolutionised project delivery, these awards recognise exceptional achievements that inspire progress and transform the industry.

From innovative project solutions and climate change initiatives to leadership and collaboration, the awards highlight the creativity, resilience, and ingenuity driving success. Being shortlisted signifies a commitment and continuous effort for excellence and a profound impact on the NEC community and beyond.

Through these awards, we aim to honour the individuals, teams, and organisations that are redefining the standards of success while inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. Being shortlisted at our Awards is a real achievement and testament to the great work carried out by the individual, team, project, collaboration, or organisation. Categories available to enter and application form can be found below.

Eligibility

  • Projects must use NEC contracts and meet the stated criteria.
  • Domestic and international projects are eligible.
  • Each organisation or individual may submit up to three entries.
  • In case of joint submissions, only the primary participant listed on the entry will have it counted toward their quota.
  • Each project can be submitted for one entry only.

How to Apply

You can apply for an award by downloading the application form linked from the related category below, which include leading questions to help guide and structure your award entries.

Please submit your completed form to sheetal.mistry@neccontract.com with the subject line 'NEC Martin Barnes Awards 2025 Application Form Enclosed'. All application forms must be submitted in an editable form, ideally using Microsoft Word. PDF application forms will not be accepted.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 14th March 2025.

2025 Award Categories:

  • Project Excellence and Innovation - This award recognises ground-breaking innovation, inventive solutions and best practice. Entries must demonstrate their creativity in rethinking conventional approaches when tackling complex challenges that has led to transformative change and delivered measurable values in areas such as infrastructure, natural capital, and organisational goals.
  • Future-focused Collaboration - This award recognises the best in collaborative efforts to develop new solutions to real-world technical challenges and to address social and environmental issues.
  • Climate Change Initiatives - This award recognises projects that demonstrate sustainable practices and positive societal impact, taking responsibility for minimising potential harms and maximising environmental benefits to help reduce the impact of climate change.
  • Client of the Year - This category seeks to recognise the organisations that commission projects and can prove their excellence as an exemplary client. They must demonstrate exceptional leadership and vision in fostering sustainability, growth, quality, value, and innovation. It celebrates those who actively drive positive change and inspire progress in their industries.


  • Professional Services of the Year - This award honors consultancies, advisory firms, and digital solution providers delivering transformative impact through innovation, client and end users’ satisfaction, and leadership in sustainability. It highlights organisations that set the standard for excellence in professional services. Where partners have worked towards common goals, can demonstrate improved performance, and should highlight how their collaboration and integration has resulted in a better outcome for all parties.
  • Contractor of the Year - This award recognises contractors and subcontractors who set new benchmarks in project delivery by embracing sustainability, innovation, and exceptional efficiency. It celebrates those going beyond conventional practices to deliver outstanding results and promote sustainable ambitions.
  • Individual Excellence Award - This award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, leadership, and innovation in implementing NEC principles. It recognises significant recent contributions that have set new standards of excellence, fostered collaboration, and achieved tangible results in projects and initiatives.
  • Distinguished Contribution Award - This award honours members who have significantly advanced the adoption and best practices of NEC principles. It recognises their exceptional leadership and dedication in driving collaboration, efficiency and sustainability, leaving a lasting legacy in the NEC community and the wider society.

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