Meet the 2018 Biodiversity #BIGAwards winners
The 2018 BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards #BIGAwards reached a thrilling finale last night unveiling this year’s worthy winners across eight hotly contested categories, along with the overall winner of this year’s Challenge, and the 2018 BIG Biodiversity Champion, voted for by the industry!
Launched in 2013 by CIRIA’s Biodiversity Interest Group (BIG), the BIG Biodiversity Challenge and its ethos “do one thing” for biodiversity has captured the attention of the construction industry with 600+ case studies submitted, 21 Awards presented plus 4 overall winners gaining recognition.
We were delighted to have Leonie Cooper AM, London Assembly Member, Merton & Wandsworth, MC the Awards presentation and our thanks to both Dusty Gedge, President of the European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations and Peter Head, Founder and CEO, Ecological Sequestration Trust who both took time out of their busy diaries to join and inspire our industry guests.
Speaking after the awards, SSEN’s Head of Environment, Richard Baldwin said “This is a great night for all of the team who have worked so hard to support the rare Great Yellow Bumblebee population around our Thurso South Substation. It is also an excellent example of how we work with other organisations to support both local and national environmental initiatives, in this case with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. As a responsible developer we are committed to ensuring that our work causes the minimum amount of disruption in the local community and where possible enhances biodiversity. Winning these awards is a fantastic recognition of this ongoing commitment.”
We are pleased to announce this year’s BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards overall winner is Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN). The project Thurso South Substation is part of a larger development to reinforce the electricity transmission network allowing connection of renewable generation projects in north of Scotland. After consulting local wildlife experts changes to the landscape plan were made to benefit the Great Yellow Bumblebee, a rare endemic species found only in the Northern Scotland. The substation site would also complement other efforts to create pollinator habitats in the wider area. The project aligns with the SSE sustainability strategy and our goal of working towards biodiversity net gain.
Our 2018 BIG Biodiversity Champion is Jamie Edmonds from Kier Utilities. Jamie was nominated by Tom Conway, Kier Contract/Operations Manager for the Bristol Water Southern Strategic Support Main project as he had the ability to collaborate and communicate with the client, landowners, charities, local communities, schools and the Kier team to ensure the success and longevity of the initiatives to enhance biodiversity on the project. Jamie leads by example and his enthusiasm for “all things biodiversity” continues to inspire Kier employees and many others to do their bit for biodiversity.
On winning his Award, Jamie said “it’s an incredible honour to win the Biodiversity Champion Award, which wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of the amazing team that work tirelessly with me. The BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards are a brilliant way to raise the profile of what can be seen as ‘the fluffy stuff’ so I hope that we can continue to encourage and inspire people to do something, no matter how big or small, for biodiversity and make a difference”.
Congratulations to all the category winners commendations to those that were shortlisted, and a big thank you to all the entries received this year as well as our sponsors for their support.
Check out the Awards winners’ gallery now.
2018 Award winners and sponsors
BIG Biodiversity Champion: Jamie Edmonds, Kier Utilities
Overall winner – prize sponsored by Wildflower Turf Ltd: Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks
Client Award – sponsored by Kier – Berkeley Group
Community Engagement Award – sponsored by Landsec: Morrison Construction and East Ayrshire Council
Project of the Year – medium/large scale Award – sponsored by British Land: Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks
Project of the Year – small scale Award: LaSalle Investment Management
Innovation Award – sponsored by Berkeley Group: Green roof shelters and multiple clients
Monitoring, Maintenance & Management Award – sponsored by Sir Robert McAlpine: Highways England and Sir Robert McAlpine
Pollinator Award: Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks
Temporary Award: Skanska
The 2019 BIG Biodiversity Challenge will be launched on 27 February hosted by Aecom in London. Full details will be announced in due course via www.bigchallenge.info.
