The Accelerate to Zero Awards are back for their fourth year, spotlighting businesses, organisations and individuals driving decarbonisation across the built environment and supporting a just transition to a zero‑carbon future. Entries are now open.

This year’s awards ceremony will be held on the evening of Thursday 5 November at voco Grand Central in Glasgow, immediately after BE-ST Fest West.

BE-ST Fest, delivered by BE-ST (Built Environment – Smarter Transformation), is the UK’s biggest festival dedicated to a zero‑carbon built environment, fostering transformative discussion and knowledge exchange to overcome barriers to net zero. In 2026, BE-ST is taking the festival on the road to communities across Scotland with four summit events in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dumfries and Inverness, focused on driving delivery against real-world challenges.

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The Accelerate to Zero Awards are free to enter and provide a platform to celebrate progress, innovation and tangible impact across the sector.

BE-ST has confirmed an expert judging panel drawn from across the built environment, academia and innovation. Judges announced so far include:

- Parag Cameron-Rastogi – Director of Real Asset Analytics, GRESB

- Matthew Clubb – Director, mwclubb

- Mat Colmer – Senior Innovation Lead, UKRI

- Charlie Forshaw – Construction Lead, Rainmaking

- Chiara Fingland – Vice Chair, Built Environment Change Makers and Climate Development Officer, SCVO

- Susan Hanlin – Principal Officer of Housing Retrofit, Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability, Glasgow City Council

- Sam King – Programme Director (Skills), Lower Thames Crossing

- Brogan MacDonald – Head of Sustainability (Building Structures), Ramboll

- Simon McWhirter – CEO, UKGBC

- Janice Russell – Managing Director, McTaggart Construction

All categories from last year return, including the Accelerate to Zero Hero Award, which recognises a standout individual or organisation making a remarkable contribution to decarbonising the built environment and is chosen by both the judging panel and a public vote. For the first time, entrants can submit video entries.

Accelerate to Zero Award 2026 categories include:

- Accelerate to Zero Hero

- Collaborative Partnership Award

- The Gamechanger Award

- The Diversity & Inclusion Award

- The BE Changemaker Award

- Circular Economy Award

- Technology Impact Award

- Skills Impact Award

- Retrofit Accelerator Award

- Community Champion Award

Submissions close at 12:00am on 28 August 2026. For full details and to apply, visit the BE-ST Fest website.