FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please find below everything you need to know about the annual Retrofit Academy Awards including sponsoring, entering and attending.  If you require any further assistance, please email [email protected].

What are the Retrofit Academy Awards? 

The Retrofit Academy Awards were established in 2022 to celebrate excellence in retrofit across 11 distinct categories. These prestigious awards honour outstanding contributions throughout the industry, from retrofit coordinators to skilled installers, social housing initiatives, local authority programmes, and exceptional individual projects. Each category shines a spotlight on both established and emerging leaders in this dynamic field.   

Key Dates for Your Diary: 
Entries open: Monday 04 November 2024
Entry deadline: Friday 17 January 2025
Shortlist announced: February 2025
Awards ceremony: Tuesday 04 March 2025

What are the 11 categories? 
Retrofit Assessor of the Year
Retrofit Contractor of the Year 
Retrofit Coordinator of the Year 
Retrofit Designer of the Year
Retrofit Installer of the Year 
Retrofit Assessment and Coordination Service 
Best Retrofit Employer Award 
Retrofit Academy Graduate Award 
Retrofit Social Value Award 
Best Local Authority-Led Retrofit Programme  
Best Social Housing-Led Retrofit Programme 

Who can enter? 
Submissions are open to everyone within the retrofit sector. You may nominate yourself, another individual, your business, or another business for the awards. Entries are encouraged from individuals, groups, and partnerships of any size or scale.

How much does it cost to enter?
Entries are completely free and you can enter as many projects/ categories as you like.

How do I enter? 
1. Head to the Retrofit Academy Website and select “Submit Your Entry” from the button selection at the top of the home page. 
2. Complete a short form with your contact information to register your interest in entering. 
3. You will then be re-directed to the entry page where you can review the categories and download the entry forms.  
4. Complete and save your entry form as a PDF, detailing your entrant’s name and project in the file name.
5. Submit your entry form no later than 5pm on Friday 17 January 2025.  
6. Alongside your entry, please provide up to 5 supporting documents. These can include a company logo, photography and PDF documents such as statistics, reports and other evidence mentioned throughout your entry. 
7. You will receive an email acknowledgement of receipt by return.

Who judges the entries? 
An independent panel of industry trail blazers and experts judge the entries. 

For each entry, judges will assess how strongly they agree with each criterion statement in the relevant award category using a sliding scale from 1-5 with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest.  

Judges will receive scoresheets to score out of 5 for each criterion. These scores will be combined, and the results for each entry will be reviewed during a ‘judging meeting.’ 

What happens if I’m shortlisted? 
All entrants will be notified when the shortlist has been announced. If you are successful, you will be provided with a “finalist” badge for marketing purposes.

When are the winners announced? 
The winners are crowned during an informal drink’s reception at the end of day one of the National Retrofit Conference (co-located with Futurebuild) at ExCeL in London. 

Winners will receive a trophy on the night, and for those who fell just slightly short of winning will be highly commended and awarded a certificate. 

Who can attend the awards ceremony?  
The Retrofit Academy Awards will bring together an exclusive, invitation-only audience of judges, sponsors, finalists, and influential industry professionals. This high-profile event offers an unparalleled networking opportunity, designed to foster business connections while celebrating the leading innovators and visionaries in the retrofit sector. 

Are there any other promotional opportunities outside of entering?  
Yes, there are a number of sponsorship packages available to book starting at just £3,500+VAT. For more information, you can download the sponsorship brochure here.