Social Project of the Year Award
The winner for this category has now been announced. Congratulations to all our finalists in this category.
Sponsored by CITI
Recognising and rewarding projects with the specific aim of developing solutions that deliver benefits to society and communities, whether they are local, regional, national or global.
Our highly sought-after Project of the Year categories are designed to recognise project excellence, both in delivery and outcomes. There are four Project of the Year Award categories, representing different types of projects. The winners of each of these awards are entered into the prestigious overall project of the year category, of which there is one winner.
The Social Project of the Year Award is given to the team whose project demonstrates the most effective use of project management and the greatest benefits and outcomes to end users and communities in projects seeking to address the concerns of 21st century society globally. This may include (but is not limited to) sustainability and climate change, conservation, disease prevention and treatment, equality, diversity and inclusion and health and wellbeing.
We require entrants to all Project of the Year categories to produce a submission of 1,500-2,500 words (in English) based on the judging criteria for that category. Entrants may also submit up to four pieces of supporting evidence - images or graphics only (no text apart from captions). Evidence must support information already included in the submission and must not introduce additional elements. Please see further details on the ‘Supporting evidence’ tab of the Awards platform. Video and audio is not accepted as part of the submission.
The Social Project of the Year is a two-stage judging category, the first stage being the written submission mentioned above and the second stage requires all finalists to present virtually to a panel of judges. Projects from all sectors, and from across the globe, may apply.
The Scholarship Project, birthed from Saudi Vision 2030, aims to transform AlUla into a cultural, heritage, and eco-tourism hub, enhancing local educational and professional opportunities.
It promotes economic diversification and sustainable development, balancing gender and specialization diversity to empower the local community. A unique governance model supports this initiative, allowing flexibility for students studying abroad, and providing extensive pre-departure training through AlUla Language Institute.
The project has successfully integrated over 1000 students, fostering a skilled workforce committed to regional growth. This transformative project highlights the effective alignment of educational initiatives with national development goals, and steps forward toward AlUla vision.
Judges comments
The Scholarship Programme is an exciting development in building people before place, which has already enjoyed great progress in achieving its outcomes. The project is designed to develop eco tourism and support local communities, identifying opportunities for growth both on an international level and among local people. The judges commended the team for their passion, their understanding of the need to leverage global expertise, and their well structured, inclusive approach.
Images are for illustration purposes only.
Judges Special Mention | Northumberland County Council - AtkinsRéalis
With increasing scrutiny of public spending, local authorities are looking for innovative ways to maximise value delivery to their residents. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which use spatial data to create visualisations that inform decisions, offers councils a unifying factor – location – that enables them to look holistically at residents’ multi-faceted needs.
To drive its GIS agenda, Northumberland County Council (NCC) commissioned AtkinsRéalis to develop a GIS Strategy, incorporating a GIS vision and plan; to migrate all GIS users from a legacy platform to a new system; to publish best practice; to provide training, and to promote knowledge-sharing via a GIS community.
Judges comments
AtkinsRéalis’s work with Northumberland County Council - which the judges praised for its technical competence, sharing of project responsibility, quality, preparation and enthusiasm.
Finalist | Design of a Low-Cost Respiratory Delivery Device - Crux Product Design
Crux secured a coveted grant funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, working on the development of a novel, low-cost respiratory drug delivery device for use during global pandemics.
Referencing Covid-19 as a case study, the early-stage programme explores the viability of a delivery system capable of administering drugs throughout the entire respiratory tract, accessible to low and middle-income countries. Crux held remote studies in South America and India for usability development, which led to 5 concepts being developed.
This project has potential for wide scale humanitarian relief and preparedness for global pandemics, offering broad ranging social benefits.
Finalist | Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre - WT Partnership
The health centre serves as a cohesive hub, amalgamating services from the Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust and Edenbridge Medical Practice.
Developed by GB Partnerships, this comprehensive facility encompasses a range of services, including a GP practice, outpatient services, a minor injury unit, expanded children’s services, therapies and social drug prescribing offerings. Additionally, the site provides newly created memorial gardens, adding a meaningful place of reflection to the community centric infrastructure.
A notable aspect of this project is its focus on sustainability with high BREEAM and EPC ratings with a vast array of photovoltaic panels.