One of the things we always like to remind people is this:

You don’t have to enter the Trades Awards yourself. You can nominate someone else.

That might be someone in your team, a colleague you work alongside, a subcontractor, or even a business you’ve seen doing great work. Some of the strongest entries we receive each year come from people taking the time to recognise someone else.

If you’ve ever thought, “they deserve some recognition”, this is your chance to make that happen.

Who Can You Nominate?

Pretty much anyone.

Across the categories, you can nominate:

• Individuals, such as apprentices, tradespeople or site managers
• Businesses, from small teams through to larger organisations
• Projects that stand out for the way they’ve been delivered

The awards are designed to reflect the whole industry, so whether it’s a small team doing excellent work or a large project with wider impact, there’s a place for it.

What Happens After You Nominate?

The process is designed to be straightforward, but also fair and robust.

Once a nomination is submitted, the person or business will be invited to complete a full application. This gives them the chance to properly tell their story, share examples of their work, and provide any supporting information.

From there, entries go into the judging process.

How the Judging Works

All applications are reviewed by our independent panel of judges, who score entries based on the criteria for each category.

From this, a shortlist is created.

If someone you’ve nominated is shortlisted, that’s already a huge achievement. It means they’ve stood out in a competitive field and caught the attention of the judges.

The Next Step: Finalist Interviews

All shortlisted entrants are invited to take part in an interview with the judges.

We know this can sound a bit daunting, but it’s actually one of the most valuable parts of the process.

It’s a chance to:

• Bring their application to life
• Talk through their work in more detail
• Answer questions and give context
• Show the people behind the submission

It’s not about catching anyone out. It’s about giving every finalist a fair opportunity to be fully understood.

The Awards Night

Following the interviews, judges make their final decisions, and the winners are announced on the night of the awards.

All finalists are invited to attend, usually by taking a seat or table with colleagues, clients or guests. It’s a brilliant opportunity to celebrate together, regardless of the outcome.

For many people, just being in the room, seeing the industry come together, and being recognised as a finalist is a moment in itself.

Why Nominating Matters

• Taking the time to nominate someone can have a real impact.
• It shows appreciation.
• It builds confidence.
• And it gives people the recognition they don’t always get day to day.
• And often, it’s that first nudge from someone else that gets people involved in the first place.

Know Someone Who Deserves It?

If someone comes to mind as you’re reading this, don’t overthink it.

Put them forward.

We’ll guide them through the rest of the process, and make sure they have everything they need to take it from there.