Key Dates

Entries Open – 5 January 2026

Deadline for entries – 20 February 2026

Shortlist announced – w/c 23 March 2026

Awards ceremony – 17 June 2026

If your organisation currently works in the highways and transportation sector there is no obstacle to enter

• The awards are free to enter
• No project too big or too small
• Entries can be from any location
• Entries are open to every organisation working in the sector, whether a CIHT partner or not
• Entries can be submitted by anyone whether a CIHT member or not
• Eligible projects can be entered for as many categories as appropriate
• An organisation can also enter as many distinct eligible projects as they wish for a category
• Submissions must be made in English only
• Entries must be submitted no later than 20 February 2026. We encourage early submission. 
• Entries are judged by impartial expert judges with a diversity of experience and opinion

Why you should enter

• Showcase your work and brand to a global audience of current leaders, decision makers and the future leaders of the sector
• Stand out from the crowd with amazing PR opportunities
• The award best represents your organisations achievements and gives you a platform to tell your story
• Receive independent recognition of your achievement by some of the most respected professionals in the sector which makes winning a fantastic accomplishment
• Enhance your brand reputation as the award provides a sign of quality for potential clients, strategic transport bodies and investors
• Being shortlisted and winning motivates staff, focuses attention on the incredible work the organisation is producing and enhances pride in the organisation
• Winning an award will attract new talent

Want even more ....

• Every entry will be considered for CIHT events, activities and thought leadership
• Every winner will be featured in the website, on social media, in Transportation Professional magazine, provided with branding for tenders and given amazing PR opportunities.

Categories at a Glance

CIHT Collaboration Award

Collaboration refers to collaboration across multiple organisations.

The Collaboration Award recognises the importance of effective relationships with other organisations and/or sectors to deliver real solutions and recognises those that have shown dedication to working in collaboration.

We expect the collaboration to be across multiple organisations. 

CIHT Creating Better Places Award

This award recognises how outstanding design and implementation of schemes in towns, cities and rural areas improve the places around them for people and the environment. 

CIHT Decarbonisation Award

This award recognises projects, schemes, products, and strategies that can demonstrate the delivery of a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint. 

The judging of this award will look for examples of carbon reduction arising from the movement of people and goods or from design, construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of transport infrastructure.

The entry can also address how the initiative’s implementation has delivered wider financial, economic, and social benefits.

The entry must show that the organisation has provided leadership and vision in taking climate action.

CIHT Equality Diversity and Inclusion Award

CIHT Health and Safety in the Workplace Award 

This award recognises initiatives that improved safety practices and culture at work.

Entrants should demonstrate how a new initiative (for example, but not limited to, a new technology, tool or working process) has significantly contributed to tackling the dangers personnel face while working in the highways and transportation sector.

CIHT Infrastructure Award

This award recognises exceptional engineering solutions that have delivered creative and innovative transport infrastructure. From good asset management and maintenance to the construction of bridges, tunnels and other civil engineering infrastructure, this award recognises  small / large schemes and projects that have showcased civil engineering in the best way possible. 

CIHT Product of the Year Award

This award celebrates new products and materials that have made a positive impact to the highways and transportation sector through innovation, sustainability and decarbonisation. Celebrating new market innovation, it recognises solutions that elevate quality, boost resilience, and set new standards in the sector.

CIHT Research Award

This award recognises an outstanding piece of research in the highways and transportation sector and looks to improve the industry by addressing a specific problem. The research project should have outlined clear targets, with structured research methods and be a unique piece of work that has been well communicated to the wider sector.

CIHT Resilience Award 

This award recognises projects, schemes or strategies in the highways and transportation sector that have contributed to making infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather events and climate change.

CIHT Road Safety Award

The Road Safety Award, in memory of John Smart, recognises outstanding achievements which improve road users' safety through excellent practice, design and technical application. 
 
The award welcomes technical and educational/training/publicity projects, which can demonstrate the quantifiable effects of the project either through measurement, monitoring or description. Road safety initiatives, schemes or products that contribute to casualty reduction are welcomed for this award, particularly where they provide outputs that can be widely applied.

CIHT Sustainability Award

This award recognises projects, schemes, products, or strategies delivered or developed by the highways and transportation sector that  demonstrate a contribution to sustainable development. The judges of this award will be looking for entries that show a clear commitment to one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal(s) and demonstrate environmental benefits with either a global or local impact. 

CIHT Team of the Year Award

Team refers to a team within a single organisation.

This award is aimed at celebrating the achievements of teams who have demonstrated professionalism and have been able to adapt and work effectively under the challenges posed in the highways and transportation sector. Entries are welcome from across the sector. The team should comprise of 5 or more persons. 

We expect the team to be working within a single organisational entity.

CIHT Technology and Digital Transformation Award

This award recognises technological innovation , such as new technology, products, processes and/or digital services that have impacted an organisation, industry and society positively. The innovation can apply to any aspect of the highways and transportation sector.

CIHT Transportation Professional of the Year Award 

This award is open to nominated CIHT members throughout highways and transportation. 

This award recognises an individual in the sector that has demonstrated professionalism and leadership in the work that they do. Entrants will demonstrate how they maintain and develop professional ethical expertise and deliver effective service for all. 

Bus Centre of Excellence Awards

The National Bus Strategy created the Bus Centre of Excellence (BCoE), funded and co-sponsored by the Department for Transport, enabling the delivery of a long-term programme of activities and support to the bus sector.  In partnership with the DfT, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) and delivers the BCOE, working closely with sector stakeholders to deliver an asset that is run by the industry for the industry..

Bus Centre of Excellence - Emerging Bus Professional  

This award acknowledges an individual's exceptional contribution within the bus industry in England whilst early in their career.  

Judges will be looking for entries that can demonstrate how the emerging professional has:  

• Managed Change – the individual has worked in a changing landscape within the bus sector and the skills they have applied to achieve this 
• Demonstrated Engagement Contribution – the individual has gone above and beyond what was expected of them in their role on one or more specific projects or initiatives  
• Committed to the Future of the bus sector – an indication of how the individual plans to contribute to the bus sector in the coming years 

How to Enter

All entry submissions must be made online via the online entry portal.

Submissions must be made in English only.

Key Dates

Entries Open – 5 January 2026

Deadline for entries – 20 February 2026

Shortlist announced – w/c 23 March 2026

Awards ceremony – 17 June 2026

What should be included in an entry?

• A high resolution, 300 dpi, version of your company logo. If your project involved more organisations, please provide their logos as well.  
• A hero image of your project to be used for CIHT promotional material if you are shortlisted.  
• Your entry should not exceed the word limit. 
• An executive summary of the activity. The summary will not be scored but will be used as an aid by judges and will appear on the website and promotional material if you are nominated. Tell people why your entry is so good and why it is worth further attention. 
• Supporting material: photographs, videos and/ or other graphic images that illustrate your projects and, where possible, the outcomes is encouraged.  
• At least one photo or image provided should be in high resolution, 300 dpi, for potential reproduction in promotional material.

Entry Rules

1. You are the owner of all intellectual rights in your entry or have all necessary consents from all other owner(s) of intellectual rights in your entry. 
2. Entries must be received no later than the published deadline date. 
3. All submissions must be made online. 
4. All entries must be supplied and conform to the category rules and submission formats. 
5. Work entered into more than one category must be treated as a completely separate entry, we encourage you to address the different criteria for each category you are submitting your entry.
6. The judges’ decision is final.
7. Due to the number of entries received, we cannot give feedback on individual entries.
8. By entering these awards, you give the organisers the right to share, publish and otherwise use the entry in all media and CIHT Policy and Technical publications. 
9. The evidence contained in the submission must be correct and you can provide further details if required.
10. The organisers reserve the right to verify that all entries have been produced for a client or for the public where relevant. 

Sponsorship

To discuss sponsorship opportunities in relation to the awards, please contact Ben Sellers on Ben.sellers@thinkpublishing.co.uk +44 (0)20 3771 7238

Help and support

Awards enquiries: awards@ciht.org.uk

Award ceremony enquiries: conferences@ciht.org.uk

Sponsorship enquiries: ben.sellers@thinkpublishing.co.uk