A new awards programme has launched in Wales and is on the lookout for the region’s most outstanding built projects – across all sectors – that are helping to transform communities and positively impact the lives of residents and visitors.
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) – the world’s leading professional standards body for those who work in land, property and construction – is seeking entries for its new Social Impact Awards which celebrate the positive contribution the built environment has on people’s lives for the first time.
There are nine category awards – Commercial, Education, Healthcare, Heritage, Infrastructure, Land & Rural, Leisure, Residential and Student Accommodation – which will be judged across criteria that not only looks to uncover how the nominated projects have enhanced lives and communities, but also their sustainability. The overall ‘Project of the Year, Wales’ title will be awarded to the category winner that demonstrates inspirational best practice and a significant wider social contribution.
All category winners will go head-to-head against other regional winners – from all 12 UK regions – to compete in the RICS Social Impact Awards Grand Final in October 2020, for the chance to win the national accolade in their respective category and the overall ‘Outstanding Contribution to Society Award’ for the best UK project. A ‘Lifetime Achiever Award’ will also be awarded to an individual nationally who has delivered great social benefit through their work.
The launch of this new awards programme follows the announcement this month about RICS’ new ‘Value the Planet’ campaign, which aims to encourage the built environment industry to help safeguard the planet by taking climate action and adopting the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.
Susan Mason, Head of Engagement for RICS in Wales said:
“We have launched a new, UK-wide annual awards programme to recognise the vital role the built environment and our professionals play in creating and delivering outstanding built projects that are having a lasting positive impact on society.
“As the only awards that celebrate the benefit that our built environment has on people’s lives, they will play an important role in recognising the value our industry brings to society across all sectors and celebrating the champions of our industry who are making a remarkable difference.”
The deadline to enter the 2020 RICS Social Impact Awards, Wales, is 31 January 2020 and an Early Bird Rate of £85 (plus VAT) is available for projects entered by 29 November 2019. The regional ceremony will take place between April and June 2020 and various sponsorship packages are available.
Find out more and enter at www.rics.org/awards
