Press releases
#BIGAwards 2024 open for entry!
February 2024
The BIG Biodiversity Challenge and Awards, led by CIRIA’s Biodiversity Community of Practice, have been officially launched! The Challenge calls on the construction industry to incorporate biodiversity enhancements into projects of any scale, with recognition for both emerging and established Biodiversity Champions.
Participation in the BIG Biodiversity Challenge and Awards is free and straightforward. With eleven award categories available, industry professionals are encouraged to submit their entries by Friday 24 May 2024. Stay connected with the awards via @BIGbiodiversity #BIGAwards
Introducing the 2023 #BIGAwards winners
November 2023
The thrilling conclusion to the 2023 BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards unfolded yesterday afternoon, 15 November at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where we announced our award winners, including the prestigious 2023 overall winner.
As we celebrate the 10th anniversary, the BIG Biodiversity Challenge remains an industry cornerstone, driving biodiversity excellence in construction and the built environment. With over 65 entries received this year, we’re delighted the Challenge and its ethos to “Do One Thing” for biodiversity continues to capture the attention of the construction industry.
.jpg)
The 2023 #BIGAwards finalists revealed
August 2023
CIRIA is delighted to announce the finalists for the BIG Awards and open registrations for the awards ceremony.
Our dedicated judging panel worked to select this year's shortlist across ten award categories. The winners will be revealed at the prestigious BIG Challenge Awards ceremony on 20 September at the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London.
2022 #BIGAwards winners announced
September 2022
The BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards 2022 reached a thrilling finale on Wednesday evening unveiling this year's worthy winners across eight categories, along with the overall winner of this year's Challenge.
Now in its ninth year, the Challenge is recognised as a leading industry initiative for delivering biodiversity within construction and the built environment. Since its launch in 2013, the Challenge continues to demonstrate that, year on year, the industry excels in going that extra mile to “do one thing” to enhance biodiversity.
2022 #BIGAwards are open for entry
March 2022
CIRIA is pleased to announce that the BIG Biodiversity Challenge was officially launched at a webinar sponsored by Marshalls, hosted on 29 March.
Since 2013 the Challenge, led by CIRIA’s BIG Biodiversity Interest Group, has invited the construction industry to add biodiversity enhancements to construction sites, developments or existing buildings, regardless of size, and whether permanent or temporary with the best enhancements gaining recognition at an awards ceremony. With 750+ project case studies received to date the Challenge is continuing to gain recognition.
As always this event brought together clients, consultants, contractors, house builders, ecologists, landscape architects as well as some of our 2021 award winners who outlined their winning projects, highlighting how any biodiversity enhancement can make a BIG difference.
2021 BIG Biodiversity Challenge is open for entry
March 2021
CIRIA’s BIG Biodiversity Challenge is back and open for entry submissions after a year’s hiatus. With 700+ project case studies received since launch in 2013, the Challenge has gained momentum and popularity.
The recent launch webinars brought together clients, consultants, contractors, house builders, ecologists, landscape architects as well our 2019 award winners who outlined their winning projects, highlighting how any biodiversity enhancement, big or small, can make a BIG difference.
#BIGAwards 2019 shortlist revealed
July 2019
We’re delighted to announce the finalists for this year’s BIG Biodiversity Challenge and Awards following tense debate during our judging session. Competition was fierce as the industry excels in going that extra mile to “Do One Thing” to enhance biodiversity.
BIG Biodiversity Challenge - reconnecting with nature
July 2018
The winners of the 2018 CIRIA BIG Biodiversity Challenge and Awards including the 2018 BIG Biodiversity Champion will be announced at a ceremony on the evening of 12 September, at the Royal College of Physicians, central London. This year’s awards evening venue is a Grade I listed building designed by renowned architect Sir Denys Lasdun (1914–2001). Opened in 1964 next to Regent's Park, it is widely considered a modernist masterpiece and one of London’s most important post-war buildings.
We are delighted to announce Dusty Gedge, President of European Green Roof and Walls Association and Peter Head, Founder and CEO, Ecological Sequestration Trust will be joining us this year to share their vision for the future of biodiversity in construction. We will also be joined by Leonie Cooper AM, London Assembly Member, Merton & Wandsworth, and Deputy Chair of the Environment Committee, who is a valued supporter of the challenge.
#BIGAwards 2018 shortlist revealed
July 2018
With the judging for the 2018 BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards finally behind us – we can honestly say our judges had to make some tough decisions. Competition was fierce in some categories and the Challenge is proving that year on year, the industry excels in going that extra mile to “do one thing” to enhance biodiversity.
BIG Biodiversity Challenge entry deadline extended
June 2018
With two weeks left before the 2018 CIRIA BIG Biodiversity Challenge closes, construction industry organisations will be competing to gain recognition for their contribution to maintaining & enhancing biodiversity. The closing date for this year’s entries has been extended to 25th June, so has your project got what it takes to be an award winner?
Call for entries - 2018 BIG Biodiversity Challenge
February 2018
The wait is over! We are delighted to announce the 2018 BIG Biodiversity Challenge is now open for entry.
The launch event welcomed 50+ delegates as our 2017 award winners outlined their projects - many of which went above and beyond 'doing one thing' to make a positive contribution towards biodiversity enhancements.
Meet the 2017 BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards winners
September 2017
Last night’s BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards saw a thrilling finale to this year’s competition, with eight well deserved winning entries revealed along with the overall winner of this year's Challenge, as well as the first BIG Biodiversity Champion, voted for by the industry!
Proudly presenting: 2017 BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards finalists
July 2017
The wait is over! Following a fraught competition and intensive days of judging, we’re delighted to announce the shortlisted entries for the 2017 BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards. With 100+ entries to choose from across eight categories, plus the nominees for the BIG Biodiversity Champion Award the judging panel had their work cut out. All category winners, overall winner and our BIG Biodiversity Champion will be announced at an Awards ceremony on the 14 September at the Blue Fin venue, in London.
BIG Biodiversity Challenge - supporting nature's recovery
July 2017
The winners of the 2017 CIRIA BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards will be announced at a ceremony on the evening of 14 September, at the Blu Fin Building, central London. This year’s awards evening venue is an elegant and energy-efficient building designed by award-winning architects Allies & Morrison. The edifice is covered in 2,000 blue aluminium fins, specifically provided to reflect the sun at different parts of the day, providing shade as well as keeping the building cool.
Since 2013, the BIG Biodiversity Challenge has gained momentum demonstrating an increase in the construction industry’s engagement and support for biodiversity. Following a rigorous judging process,
this year’s awards shortlist will be announced at the end of July 2017.
You've got to be in it, to win BIG
May 2017
With less than three weeks left before the 2017 CIRIA BIG Biodiversity Challenge closes, organisations in the construction industry are competing to gain recognition for their contribution to maintaining & enhancing biodiversity. The closing date for this year’s entries is 12th June, so does your project have what it takes to be an award winner?
Getting involved in the Challenge and Awards couldn’t be easier. Simply sign up to take the Challenge, enter the Awards, sponsor an award category or join us on social media @bigbiodiversity. #BIGAwards.
Ready to do one thing for biodiversity in construction?
February 2017
CIRIA is delighted to announce that the BIG Biodiversity Challenge 2017 was officially launched on 28 February, in London. Now in its fourth year, and led by the BIG Biodiversity Interest Group, the Challenge invites the industry to add one new biodiversity enhancement to a construction site, development or existing building, however big or small, permanent or temporary, and to be creative about enhancing biodiversity.
Getting involved in the Challenge and Awards couldn’t be easier. Simply sign up to take the Challenge, enter the Awards, sponsor an award category or join us on social media @bigbiodiversity.
The winners of the 2016 BIG Biodiversity Challenge are…
September 2016
On Thursday 15 September, the BIG Biodiversity Challenge 2016 competition reached its finale with eight well deserved winning entries announced along with an overall winner of this year's Challenge. With an impressive 155 entries received this year across eight award categories, organisations have shown how their projects are helping to strengthen biodiversity across the UK.
We are proud to announce this year’s BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards overall winner is Breakthrough Community Enterprise/Nationwide Forestry Solutions for their project “Symbiosis” - encompassing an acre of land with 11 industrial units on a much larger industrial estate, based on reclaimed coal spoil. The project comprises a nursery with 30000 native trees saplings (from local seed), open woodland, closed woodland, close scrub, meadow, and mature mixed hedge line habitats along with multi height mowing regime in the open areas.
BIG Biodiversity Challenge Shortlist Announced
September 2016
Following a record breaking number of entries and an intensive day of judging, CIRIA's Biodiversity Interest Group (BIG) is delighted to announce the shortlisted entries for the 2016 BIG Biodiversity Challenge.
With more than 150 entries to choose from across eight categories, the cross-industry judging panel have selected a shortlist from a range of biodiversity project.
You’ve got to be in it - to win it!
July 2016
Entries for CIRIA’s BIG Biodiversity Challenge 2016 are flooding in, with stakeholders across construction and the built environment competing to be recognised for their contribution to maintaining & enhancing biodiversity in construction. The closing date for entries this year is set for 8 August, so polish up those entries and showcase how you have taken up the challenge.
Have you taken the BIG Biodiversity Challenge?
May 2016
CIRIA is delighted to announce that the BIG Biodiversity Challenge 2016 is now open for entries. Now in its third year, the Challenge invites leaders from across construction, infrastructure, transport, retail and Government to ‘do one thing’ for biodiversity.