Award entry form 2026

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AWARD


An award that covers emerging and applied product/system/install/renovation to support the use of trenchless techniques and must demonstrate that it has been accepted for use in the utility industry. Innovative technologies must be trenchless and new to the UK market e.g. asset health inspection, underground mapping, installation equipment, new materials, and techniques. This list is illustrative only. (this category is about the technology rather than the application)

Judging Criteria:

Each submission will be rated against the following four categories

The maximum score any entry in this category can be awarded is 60 points.

1. Overall Innovative Contribution to the Project, Product, and/or Industry (Maximum 30 Points)
• Originality of Approach
• Application of Innovation
• Technical Difficulty
• Maximising Technology
• Commercial Potential

2. Client Satisfaction (Maximum 10 Points)
• Quality of Workmanship
• Teamwork
• Fitness for Purpose
• Customer Impact

3. Health & Safety (Maximum 10 Points)
• Health & Safety Record
• Risk Management System
• Safe Systems of Work

4. Sustainability (Maximum 10 Points)
• Carbon Accounting
• Waste Management
• Environmental Impact

DETECTION, LOCATION & INSPECTION

This award will be presented to the entry that best demonstrates the use of detection, location, or inspection techniques to overcome significant challenges in the use of remote and less intrusive ways of assessing existing underground assets.

Judging Criteria:

Each submission will be rated against the following five categories

The maximum score for any project category is 50 points.

1. Project Management (Maximum 10 Points)
• On Time Delivery
• Cost Control
• Teamwork
• Avoidance and/or Management of Disputes
• Quality of Workmanship

2. Community Impact & Customer Care (Maximum 10 Points)
• Advance Warning & Publicity
• Business Consultations, Communications, Information Management
• Programme Management
• Building Local Relationships
• Reducing Public Impact/Inconvenience
• Reduction in Disruption to Transport Infrastructure such as Highways/Rail/Aviation

3. Legislative Compliance (Maximum 10 Points)
• Health & Safety Record
• Construction Design & Management Regulations (CDM)
• Safe Systems of Work
• Street Works Legislative Compliance

4. Sustainability (environmental impact/carbon footprint) (Maximum 10 Points)
• Contribution to Sustainability (e.g. effective carbon reduction, waste management, environmental awareness, biodiversity)
• Efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of the works.

5. Innovation (Maximum 10 Points)
• Choice of technique and skill to overcome site constraints ground conditions and other site-specific issues.
• Cost Effectiveness
• Timely Deployment
• Meet Customer Expectations
• Highlight the novel application of the chosen technique or equipment

The items listed under each category in standard type are issues that need to be considered in reaching the score for that category.

NEW INSTALLATION – LARGE PROJECT (> £350K)


This award will be presented to companies demonstrating their key roles in successful new installations of cables, ducts or pipelines using trenchless techniques.
For the avoidance of doubt, projects that replace the host pipe by means of bursting, splitting or eating of the original pipe and thus no longer remain dependent on any residual strength of the original pipe shall be entered for judging within the new installation rather than the renovation category of the awards process.

Judging Criteria:

Each submission will be rated against the following five categories

The maximum score for any project category is 50 points.

1. Project Management (Maximum 10 Points)
• On Time Delivery
• Cost Control
• Teamwork
• Avoidance and/or Management of Disputes
• Quality of Workmanship

2. Community Impact & Customer Care (Maximum 10 Points)
• Advance Warning & Publicity
• Business Consultations, Communications, Information Management
• Programme Management
• Building Local Relationships
• Reducing Public Impact/Inconvenience
• Reduction in Disruption to Transport Infrastructure such as Highways/Rail/Aviation

3. Legislative Compliance (Maximum 10 Points)
• Health & Safety Record
• Construction Design & Management Regulations (CDM)
• Safe Systems of Work
• Street Works Legislative Compliance

4. Sustainability (environmental impact/carbon footprint) (Maximum 10 Points)
• Contribution to Sustainability (e.g. effective carbon reduction, waste management, environmental awareness, biodiversity)
• Efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of the works.

5. Innovation (Maximum 10 Points)
• Choice of technique and skill to overcome site constraints ground conditions and other site-specific issues.
• Cost Effectiveness
• Timely Deployment
• Meet Customer Expectations
• Highlight the novel application of the chosen technique or equipment

The items listed under each category in standard type are issues that need to be considered in reaching the score for that category.

NEW INSTALLATION – SMALL PROJECT (£70K - £350K)


This award will be presented to companies demonstrating their key roles in successful new installations of cables, ducts or pipelines using trenchless techniques.
For the avoidance of doubt, projects that replace the host pipe by means of bursting, splitting or eating of the original pipe and thus no longer remain dependent on any residual strength of the original pipe shall be entered for judging within the new installation rather than the renovation category of the awards process.

Judging Criteria:

Each submission will be rated against the following five categories

The maximum score for any project category is 50 points.

1. Project Management (Maximum 10 Points)
• On Time Delivery
• Cost Control
• Teamwork
• Avoidance and/or Management of Disputes
• Quality of Workmanship

2. Community Impact & Customer Care (Maximum 10 Points)
• Advance Warning & Publicity
• Business Consultations, Communications, Information Management
• Programme Management
• Building Local Relationships
• Reducing Public Impact/Inconvenience
• Reduction in Disruption to Transport Infrastructure such as Highways/Rail/Aviation

3. Legislative Compliance (Maximum 10 Points)
• Health & Safety Record
• Construction Design & Management Regulations (CDM)
• Safe Systems of Work
• Street Works Legislative Compliance

4. Sustainability (environmental impact/carbon footprint) (Maximum 10 Points)
• Contribution to Sustainability (e.g. effective carbon reduction, waste management, environmental awareness, biodiversity)
• Efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of the works.

5. Innovation (Maximum 10 Points)
• Choice of technique and skill to overcome site constraints ground conditions and other site-specific issues.
• Cost Effectiveness
• Timely Deployment
• Meet Customer Expectations
• Highlight the novel application of the chosen technique or equipment

The items listed under each category in standard type are issues that need to be considered in reaching the score for that category.

RENOVATION – LARGE PROJECT (> £350K)


Covers successful renovation projects of any diameter or technique for cables, ducts, culverts, and pipelines for any utility, using trenchless techniques.

Judging Criteria:

Each submission will be rated against the following five categories

The maximum score for any project category is 50 points.

1. Project Management (Maximum 10 Points)
• On Time Delivery
• Cost Control
• Teamwork
• Avoidance and/or Management of Disputes
• Quality of Workmanship

2. Community Impact & Customer Care (Maximum 10 Points)
• Advance Warning & Publicity
• Business Consultations, Communications, Information Management
• Programme Management
• Building Local Relationships
• Reducing Public Impact/Inconvenience
• Reduction in Disruption to Transport Infrastructure such as Highways/Rail/Aviation

3. Legislative Compliance (Maximum 10 Points)
• Health & Safety Record
• Construction Design & Management Regulations (CDM)
• Safe Systems of Work
• Street Works Legislative Compliance

4. Sustainability (environmental impact/carbon footprint) (Maximum 10 Points)
• Contribution to Sustainability (e.g. effective carbon reduction, waste management, environmental awareness, biodiversity)
• Efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of the works.

5. Innovation (Maximum 10 Points)
• Choice of technique and skill to overcome site constraints ground conditions and other site-specific issues.
• Cost Effectiveness
• Timely Deployment
• Meet Customer Expectations
• Highlight the novel application of the chosen technique or equipment

The items listed under each category in standard type are issues that need to be considered in reaching the score for that category.

RENOVATION – SMALL PROJECT (£70K - £350K)


Covers successful renovation projects of any diameter or technique for cables, ducts, culverts, and pipelines for any utility, using trenchless techniques.

Judging Criteria:

Each submission will be rated against the following five categories

The maximum score for any project category is 50 points.

1. Project Management (Maximum 10 Points)
• On Time Delivery
• Cost Control
• Teamwork
• Avoidance and/or Management of Disputes
• Quality of Workmanship

2. Community Impact & Customer Care (Maximum 10 Points)
• Advance Warning & Publicity
• Business Consultations, Communications, Information Management
• Programme Management
• Building Local Relationships
• Reducing Public Impact/Inconvenience
• Reduction in Disruption to Transport Infrastructure such as Highways/Rail/Aviation

3. Legislative Compliance (Maximum 10 Points)
• Health & Safety Record
• Construction Design & Management Regulations (CDM)
• Safe Systems of Work
• Street Works Legislative Compliance

4. Sustainability (environmental impact/carbon footprint) (Maximum 10 Points)
• Contribution to Sustainability (e.g. effective carbon reduction, waste management, environmental awareness, biodiversity)
• Efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of the works.

5. Innovation (Maximum 10 Points)
• Choice of technique and skill to overcome site constraints ground conditions and other site-specific issues.
• Cost Effectiveness
• Timely Deployment
• Meet Customer Expectations
• Highlight the novel application of the chosen technique or equipment

The items listed under each category in standard type are issues that need to be considered in reaching the score for that category.

SMALL SCHEME (<£70K)


This award is offered by UKSTT to encourage applicants to submit projects that, despite being small, are examples of excellence either technically or professionally, that they believe supports the aims of the awards ethos as well as demonstrates innovation in street works and the protection of the environment. It is designed to encourage submissions from a wider range of entrants in the trenchless world that can be related to any underground infrastructure projects of other cables, ducts, culverts, & pipelines for any utility using trenchless techniques.

Judging Criteria:

Each submission will be rated against the following five categories

The maximum score for any project category is 50 points.

1. Project Management (Maximum 10 Points)
• On Time Delivery
• Cost Control
• Teamwork
• Avoidance and/or Management of Disputes
• Quality of Workmanship

2. Community Impact & Customer Care (Maximum 10 Points)
• Advance Warning & Publicity
• Business Consultations, Communications, Information Management
• Programme Management
• Building Local Relationships
• Reducing Public Impact/Inconvenience
• Reduction in Disruption to Transport Infrastructure such as Highways/Rail/Aviation

3. Legislative Compliance (Maximum 10 Points)
• Health & Safety Record
• Construction Design & Management Regulations (CDM)
• Safe Systems of Work
• Street Works Legislative Compliance

4. Sustainability (environmental impact/carbon footprint) (Maximum 10 Points)
• Contribution to Sustainability (e.g. effective carbon reduction, waste management, environmental awareness, biodiversity)
• Efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of the works.

5. Innovation (Maximum 10 Points)
• Choice of technique and skill to overcome site constraints ground conditions and other site-specific issues.
• Cost Effectiveness
• Timely Deployment
• Meet Customer Expectations
• Highlight the novel application of the chosen technique or equipment

The items listed under each category in standard type are issues that need to be considered in reaching the score for that category.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL


The UKSTT Chair’s award will go to the professional (<30 years old) who can best demonstrate their contribution to the field of Trenchless Technology.

We will be looking for evidence of an understanding of Trenchless Technology, the individual’s contribution made, the quality of the submission and the candidate’s vision for the future of Trenchless Technology.

Each submission will be rated against the following four categories

1. Understanding of Trenchless Technology (Maximum 10 Points)
• Originality of Approach
• Innovation
• Technical Difficulty
• Safety Record
• Environmental Considerations

2. Contribution to the Project/Industry (Maximum 10 Points)
• Customer Care
• Client Satisfaction
• Programme Compliance
• Cost Minimisation

3. Quality of the Submission (Maximum 10 Points)
• Appearance
• Content (facts/figures)
• Use of Graphics, Images & Photo Support

4. Vision for the Future (Maximum 10 Points)
• Clear Understanding of the ‘Climate’
• Demonstrable Knowledge through Study & CPD
• Geopolitical Context (national/international)

 The items listed under each category are issues that need to be considered in reaching the score for that category.

Each of these categories will be rated within the headings and scores illustrated in the table against each section. The maximum score awarded is 40 points.

* Must be aged 30 or under as from 18th July 2026