Following the online broadcast of the 2021 Consultancy and Engineering Awards, ACE is delighted to share the winners of the ten awards.

Congratulating the winners, ACE’s interim CEO Laurence Brett, said: “The last 18 months have been especially testing for everyone, but it didn’t stop us receiving some fantastic and truly inspiring entries that showed all the ingenuity our sector is famed for. We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of the industry and the ten worthy winners announced today.”

The winners were announced at on online ceremony streamed on ACE’s website and via YouTube: https://youtu.be/3YsqY8uZjk4.

They are:
Best pandemic response – Buro Happold
Future of Consultancy – Client Advisor of the Year – Mott MacDonald
Future of Consultancy – Best use of Digital (sponsored by WSP) – We Are Deetu / BWB Consulting
Net Zero Advisor of the Year (sponsored by Arcadis and supported by EIC) – Harley Haddow
Apprentice of the Year (supported by TAC) – Georgia Lilley of Waterman Group
Emerging Professional of the Year (supported by ACE Emerging Professionals) – Marzia Bolpagni of Mace.
Inclusive employer of the Year – WSP.
Best UK Consultancy (micro) – Beattie Flanigan
Best UK Consultancy (SME) – SDS Solutions
Best UK Consultancy (large) – Tony Gee

Brett added: “Returning after a long delay owing to the pandemic, the awards were successfully delivered online for the first time in its history. Thanks to the generous support of headline sponsors Bentley Systems and Griffiths & Armour, they were also both totally free to enter and attend this year.”

“ACE is looking forward to building on this online success and, circumstances permitting, returning to a more traditional awards ceremony in the future.”

ENDS

 
Notes to editors / judges comments on the winners.

Best pandemic response: Buro Happold
The judges were impressed with the leadership shown by Buro Happold in its response to the COVID pandemic. The company really rose to the challenge of working remotely and focused on the needs of clients with the launch of its Covid Adaptation Advisory Service.  In addition they supported employees throughout the pandemic, surveying staff across the year with a key focus on wellbeing and mental health. It was clear that supporting mental health and wellbeing are integral parts of Buro Happold’s organisational culture. The company’s work in supporting local communities wherever they worked were impressive features of an excellent all-round entry.

Future of Consultancy – Client Advisor of the Year: Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald shared a digital benchmarking index tool, demonstrating a strong client advisory role undertaken by themselves.  The judges felt that this entry had an extremely impressive impact, and was also a very good example of working with a client with benefits for the wider industry. They valued how the Mott McDonald team had helped and supported the infrastructure client group to deliver digital maturity during the project. A clear winner and unanimous decision from the judges.

Future of Consultancy – Best use of Digital (sponsored by WSP): Deetu/BWB Consulting

Deetu shaped the urban regeneration of Nottingham’s waterside using advanced digital tools to define community requirements and increase community engagement.

The judges admired the way Deetu had grasped the opportunity to shape the Urban regeneration of Nottingham’s waterside and had used advanced digital tools to define what the community required and how this would benefit society in the future. This massively increased engagement, leading to a stunning project outcome.

Net Zero Advisor of the Year (sponsored by Arcadis and supported by EIC): Harley Haddow

Harley Haddow featured an innovative digital twin which brings different modelling methods together to enable clients to find the sweet spot by easily assessing both cost and carbon savings. The judges were impressed by Harley Haddow's innovative digital twin, a dynamic tool that allows clients to scenario test different technologies and take into account both the cost and carbon implications of different technology applications. Digital twins are an area where we need to see innovation at pace, and the judges felt that Harley Haddow delivered this, clearly demonstrating how this tool could be scaled up to different clients and the potential impact on carbon reduction.

Apprentice of the Year (supported by TAC): Georgia Lilley of Waterman group.

Georgia was extremely passionate and enthusiastic about STEM, equality and diversity. She challenges perceptions of apprenticeships and passionately speaks about helping more women into the industry. She articulated well on her technical knowledge in structural engineering and taking on additional tasks outside of her employment including company internal sketch clubs, Woman in Engineering, Women in STEM, Young Apprenticeship Ambassador and the Virtual Stem fest including hosting career stands and providing talks to schools.

Emerging Professional of the Year: Dr Marzia Bolpagni of Mace

Marzia’s application was extremely strong and demonstrated the depth of work that she has taken on, and how she has progressed her role. In interview, she showed how she has developed links with academia, inspired young people and is changing the industry through her work on standards and linking digital skills and innovation to sustainability. The judges were impressed with her work encouraging students to consider a consultancy career.

Inclusive Employer of the Year: WSP

The judges were impressed with their recently introduced strategic plan and operational actions to support both short and longer term views. They acknowledged the need to reframe in order to best meet current needs. There was strong evidence of the strategy and plan being brought to life through powerful testimonials highlighting an array of diversity areas.

They brought the subject to life and ensured it was something everyone takes responsibility for. This was far from a paper exercise but a “lived and breathed” culture where staff appear to be in the driving seat as change makers as custodians of workplace culture.

Best UK Consultancy (small): Beatie Flanigan
The judges were impressed by the sincerity and genuine heartfelt response from Beattie Flanigan, who mobilised themselves with courage during an extremely difficult time. Beattie Flanigan seemed to thrive in the face of the adversity of the pandemic, with a community response that leaped out, and a clear focus on caring for their staff.  The Nightingale hospital project that they were involved in formed a key part of an impressively cohesive community response.

Best UK Consultancy (medium): Services Design Solution

The judges were not only impressed with their very clear mission statement but the development of their charitable work, as well as mental health awareness and introducing mental health first aiders across their organisation. A strong financial performance was demonstrated at the same time.

Best UK Consultancy (large): Tony Gee and Partners

The judges were impressed with Tony Gee and Partners who demonstrated real success in an extremely difficult year. Their pledge to net zero and innovative approach to the use of their board was both interesting and impressive. Splitting project delivery, financial and staff support was innovative and clearly effective.