Still time to enter

Published: 07 January, 2009

There is still time to enter the 2009 Building Controls Industry Awards which are being staged in association with the BCIA (Building Controls Industry Association) and BSEE.

BSEE and the BCIA have once again joined forces to bring you The 2009 Building Controls Industry Awards, an awards programme designed to bring together the entire building controls industry in a celebration of the companies, innovations and people that are achieving the highest professional standards and helping to drive this dynamic industry forward.

The standard of entries in 2008 was extremely high and the winners deserved the praise which they received. Joe England from AES Controls who won the Student of the Year Award said: “I am extremely pleased and delighted to receive this award as it is very gratifying to be recognised within such a competitive industry. Obviously my thanks go my employer, AES Control Systems, and in particular to the people in the projects department in giving their time and HVAC knowledge. Special thanks also to James Harman, projects manager, and Surj Notay my training mentor.

“I find that every day brings different and interesting projects requiring a range of control solutions from me; technology does not stand still and this means that I am constantly learning. The building controls industry is where I plan to establish my career as a projects engineer, with the help of AES Control Systems.”

If you think you have the winning qualities of people like Joe then read on because we are now calling for entries in all of the award categories, for achievements which took place or were completed during 2007/08. The judging panel will be looking for evidence of genuine excellence, both measurable and memorable, and for guidance notes and an entry form, please visit the website.

Entry is free, so if you work for or know of, an organisation that has enjoyed some successes over the past 18 months, we look forward to hearing from you. The deadline for all submissions is Friday 30 January 2009.

The award categories

The award categories cover all areas of the building controls industry and are as follows:

Student of the Year – sponsored by Siemens Building Technologies

Awarded to the individual who best demonstrates the achievements gained through the successful participation in the BCIA Technical Training Programme (this could also include other building controls educational programmes). Recognising the value of the training programme and the importance of continuous professional development, the recipient will have displayed a significant advancement in his/her building controls career. The recipient will need to provide evidence of the following:

Achievements to date
Application of knowledge
A recent testimonial (from a tutor, employer or similar)

Engineer of the Year – sponsored by Trend Control Systems

Awarded to the individual who best demonstrates the achievement of engineering excellence within the building controls industry. Utilising technical knowledge, application know-how and project management skills in meeting and resolving a particular engineering challenge, the recipient will have displayed a commitment not just to their duties and responsibilities but also to the industry and the environment as a whole.

The recipient will need to provide evidence of the following:

Achievements to date
Application of knowledge
A recent testimonial (from an employer, customer or similar)

Frank Dennis OBE Award – sponsored by FETA

Awarded to the individual responsible for implementing a successful sales and/or marketing strategy that has had a positive and demonstrable effect on their company or the industry as a whole. Detailing the success of the strategic plan by clearly illustrating its aims and objectives, together with its overall results, the recipient may be employed in either a sales or marketing role.

Independent Systems Installer of the Year – sponsored by CentraLine by Honeywell

Awarded in recognition of the installer which best demonstrates professionalism, commitment and understanding of the needs of their client and the industry as a whole. Detailing the achievements gained through specific projects and installations, the recipient will need to provide evidence of the following:

Meeting the client objectives
System delivery and innovation
Clients’ appraisal (testimonial)

Technical Innovation of the Year – sponsored by BSEE

Awarded for the most innovative building controls product, system or service (new or redeveloped) introduced onto the market within the last 12 months. Detailing its precise technical configuration, the recipient will need to provide evidence of the following:

Innovation
Application
Use and relevance of the product (testimonial)

Energy Management Award – sponsored by Priva Building Intelligence

Awarded to a manufacturer and/or system house in recognition of the positive contribution that a Building Management System is providing (actual or projected) to the energy efficiency of a building and/or building complex. Detailing the specific requirements of the system and the overall energy savings secured, the recipient will need to provide evidence of the following:

Reason for installation
Type of system installed
The benefits which the system has provided to the building and the environment

Best Service & Maintenance Provider – sponsored by Building Automation Solutions Ltd

Awarded to the company who best demonstrates outstanding levels of care and commitment to both their client and the industry as a whole, in the provision of customer service and maintenance contracts for Building Management Systems. Covering the specific details of any given contract or project, including any difficulties that needed to be overcome, the recipient of this award will need to provide evidence of the following:

Services provided
Meeting the client objectives
Clients’ appraisal (testimonial)

NB. Service & Maintenance Providers can nominate themselves or they can be nominated by their clients – either way, details of the service being offered must be supported by a client testimonial.

Judges Special Award – sponsored by ECA

Awarded for outstanding contribution and achievement, the recipient is selected by the BCIA Judging Panel for what they believe is an entry worthy of recognition but which for various reasons falls outside of the main awards categories and judging criteria.

No nominations will be sought for this category.

Entry guidelines

All finalists will benefit from a highly-effective and targeted form of promotion and visibility, prior to, during and after the event, so what have you got to lose… enter your company today.

It’s easy to enter so there are no excuses for missing out on this prestigious event in the building controls industry calendar. You may enter as many categories as you wish and you may nominate your own company, or another that you know or work with. Category finalists will be promoted throughout March and April 2009 when the online voting facility will be available to your supporters – all you have to do is make sure that they vote for you!

All completed entries must be received by no later than 17.00 on Friday 30 January 2009. All entries will be judged by a panel of independent adjudicators whose decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into with respect to those decisions. The winners will be announced at the awards dinner on 14 May 2009.

So what are you waiting for – get your entry form now.

The Awards Dinner

This was THE industry event of 2008 where guests gathered together for an excellent evening of fun and entertainment. Harry Swinbourne from CentraLine by Honeywell who sponsored the 2008 event said: “CentraLine by Honeywell is an enthusiastic and committed sponsor of the BCIA Awards, which have increased steadily in support and prestige. The 2008 Awards Ceremony was an excellent evening which not only rewarded significant contributors to the building controls industry but celebrated our impacts on the business communities we serve.

“CentraLine by Honeywell is delighted to continue its sponsorship of Independent Systems Installer of the Year, won this year by Smith and Byford, a CentraLine Partner. The category and its winners exemplify the BCIA’s main objectives: to design, engineer, install and service economic and competitive control systems that ensure end user safety, comfort and energy conservation.

“From a personal perspective I was delighted that Jeff Howlett, who is widely respected within Honeywell and also by customers and Partners, was awarded Engineer of the Year. This category not only rewards ability and commitment but also provides inspiration for engineering excellence.”

Make sure you don’t miss out – put 14 May 2009 in your diary now for an awards dinner which promises to be even better than last year.

Sponsorship

There are a number of exciting and unique sponsorship opportunities available at the event for proactive companies to raise their profile. With an overall reach of some 50,000 active building controls buyers, users and specifiers, and fully supported by the BCIA, BSEE & Building Automation magazines, the 2009 awards programme will provide supporting organisations with a fully-integrated promotional campaign, comprising powerful pre-& post-event messaging and branding, and an impressive presence at the event itself.

This is the only opportunity for the whole of the building controls industry to join together to celebrate the many successes in the industry – we look forward to seeing you on the night for a celebration which promises to be second to none.

The Building Controls Industry Awards 2009 is organised by Datateam Publishing Limited in association with BCIA and BSEE.

For further information on how to enter your company, application, product or service, or indeed yourself or a colleague, into this year’s awards programme, please contact: