CIBSE Young Engineers Awards 2026
Now in their 31st year, the CIBSE Young Engineers Awards celebrate innovative thinking, hard work, and exceptional skill from graduate and undergraduate engineers and apprentices across the building services profession.
The awards also recognise employers of all sizes who demonstrate commitment to developing and nurturing the next generation of talent.
The 2026 CIBSE Young Engineers Awards will take place on Thursday, 8 October in London.
Entry deadline: 20 July 2026
Enter the Young Engineers Awards
CIBSE Undergraduate of the Year
Open to undergraduate CIBSE Student members in their final year of study. Both domestic and international students are welcome to enter.
To enter, you will need to:
- Submit a synopsis of your final year project (450 words)
- Create a 3-minute video presentation based on your synopsis, outlining your dissertation or final project topic
Your video should address:
- What does the project set out to achieve?
- What is the original approach being demonstrated?
- How does the project demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of engineering principles?
Entry deadline: 20 July 2026
Download "Prepare your Entry" Guide | Enter Now ➡️
Apprentice of the Year – Level 3–4
Open to apprentices currently undertaking or who have recently completed a Level 3 or Level 4 apprenticeship in a building services engineering discipline. Entries must be submitted by a nominator (typically an employer or training provider) and include a statement from the apprentice themselves.
Nominator statement (max 450 words):
- Why would your apprentice make a good CIBSE Apprentice of the Year?
- Include examples of academic and/or practical achievements.
Apprentice statement (max 450 words):
- What are the strengths and advantages of entering building services via the apprenticeship route?
Video submission:
Apprentices must prepare and submit a 3-minute video responding to the following topic:
How do you think digital tools and automation, including AI, could support building services engineers in delivering more energy-efficient and sustainable buildings in the future?
Apprentice of the Year – Level 5–7
Open to apprentices currently undertaking or who have recently completed a Level 5, 6, or 7 apprenticeship in a building services engineering discipline. Entries must be submitted by a nominator and include a statement from the apprentice themselves.
Nominator statement (max 450 words):
- Why would your apprentice make a good CIBSE Apprentice of the Year?
- Include examples of academic and/or practical achievements.
Apprentice statement (max 450 words):
- What are the strengths and advantages of entering building services via the apprenticeship route?
Video submission:
Apprentices must prepare and submit a 3-minute video responding to the following topic:
What responsibilities do engineers have when adopting AI and digital tools to support sustainable design?
Entry deadline: 20 July 2026
CIBSE ASHRAE Graduate of the Year
Open to recently qualified building services engineers in the early stages of their career. Entries must be supported by an endorser — a lecturer, employer, or industry contact who can speak to the graduate's achievements.
You will need to provide:
Graduate information: name, contact details, university, qualification type, final grade, date awarded, and current position/employer.
Endorser information: name, organisation, job title, and contact details.
Your endorser will be asked to provide a statement (max 250 words) covering:
- What the graduate has achieved academically and/or in practical projects
- Why the graduate would be a good ambassador for the building services profession
You may also submit a supporting PDF, though the main entry form will be used in the shortlisting process.
Finalists will be invited to deliver a short presentation to the judges on the night of the awards on the following topic:
How should building services engineers evolve to actively shape AI's impact on ensuring a truly sustainable future?
Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates.
Entry deadline: 20 July 2026
CIBSE Employer of the Year
Recognising organisations of all sizes that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to recruiting, developing, and investing in young engineering talent. Enter in the category that reflects your organisation's size.
All employer entries require three components:
1. Company details:
- Company overview (200 words)
- Total number of staff
- Number of building services engineers (BSEs)
- Number of junior-level/graduate BSEs
- Number of BSEs on an approved training scheme
2. Staff nomination — a staff statement (100 words) describing how your company supports young engineers through:
- Involvement with schools and colleges
- Internal training, mentoring, and development
- Initiatives to grow young talent in the sector
3. Young Engineer endorsement — a Young Engineer Statement (750 words) covering:
- The young engineer's role within your company
- Why they endorse your company for Employer of the Year
Entry deadline: 20 July 2026
Download "Prepare Your Entry" Guide | Enter now ➡️
Past Winners
Be inspired by over 30 years of engineering talent
Supporters
Headline Sponsor
Daikin
We’re proud to be the headline sponsor of the CIBSE 2026 Young Engineers Awards, supporting the next generation of industry talent. Daikin delivers sustainable, energy-efficient climate solutions and is driving the UK’s low-carbon transition with advanced heat pump technology and a commitment to net zero by 2050.
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CIBSE Patrons
Category Sponosr - Employer of the Year
CIBSE Patrons is a network of businesses who collaborate to give financial, technical and moral backing to a wide range of initiatives led by CIBSE. Members include consulting engineering practices, manufacturers, contractors, and trade bodies. The Patrons’ primary focus is on ‘nurturing talent’: they support a wide range of initiatives designed to attract, encourage and improve the recruitment, development, training and retention of engineers on behalf of the industry at large. This support ranges from the production of careers booklets, to the sponsorship of bursaries, and to their growing role as lead supporter of the CIBSE Young Engineers Awards.
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Georg Fischer
Category Sponsor - Undergraduate of the Year
GF has a rich history in industrial innovation since 1802, is actively reshaping itself to become the global leader in Flow Solutions for Industry, Infrastructure and Buildings. GF delivers Excellence in Flow by providing essential products and solutions that enable the safe and sustainable transport of fluids worldwide. The portfolio comprises of safe solutions for hot- and cold-water supply and control, noise-reducing wastewater systems, as well as energy-efficient heating and cooling.
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Swegon (Graduate of the Year)
Category Sponsor - Graduate of the Year
At Swegon, we believe that indoor environments should make people feel good within the spaces where they spend their time – and feel good within themselves. After all, around 90% of our time is spent indoors. It’s no exaggeration to say that our health, happiness and performance depend on it…. Which is why we engineer HVAC products that are not only highly energy efficient but also easy to combine into systems.
We do it to bring ambitious solutions to life, so that all stakeholders can enjoy the benefits of sustainable buildings. It’s also why Swegon products are designed to be easy to install and commission. And why they are built to last – because good health, happiness and performance should always be a long-term investment.
A true partner, we take responsibility for our role in every project and work to minimise lifecycle costs, reduce complexity and provide competent support – from project start to finish, and beyond. All to help deliver a flexible, health and safe HVAC solution that works exactly as desired. Every time.
Add it all up, and you get indoor environments that let people be at their best, today and tomorrow!
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BCIA
The Building Controls Industry Association is the UK's only association specifically for the building controls and automation sector. In addition to helping shape policy and legislation, the association drives quality standards through industry-leading training provision, raises awareness of how building controls can improve building performance, occupant well-being and help building owners net zero, and represents the industry's interests while supporting members and their employees.
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BESA
BESA (Building Engineering Services Association) is a UK-based trade organisation established in 1904, dedicated to advancing the building services industry. It represents contractors involved in the design, installation, and maintenance of engineering systems in the buildings, including HVAC, plumbing, and renewable energy solutions. BESA provides technical guidance, training, and certification schemes to promote excellence, safety, and sustainability across the sector. The association actively engaged in policy development, supporting its members with compliance, industry standards, and best practices. BESA is a trusted voice in the built environment, fostering innovation and collaboration to meet the challenges of modern construction and energy efficiency.
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