Every March, the Retrofit Academy Awards bring together professionals from across the industry to celebrate those leading the race to the top. It is an evening of recognition, but its impact goes far beyond the stage.

Events like this matter because they encourage reflection. They prompt the industry to ask: What does good look like in practice? How do we define quality in retrofit? And how can we turn individual excellence into collective progress?

Now entering their fifth year, the Awards have become a recognised moment in the retrofit calendar. They take place within the National Retrofit Conference Theatre (co-located with Futurebuild) at the end of day one, linking celebration directly to ongoing debate, learning, and collaboration across the sector.

The Awards were founded to recognise and share excellence in a fast-developing industry. Retrofit involves multiple disciplines, including design, assessment, delivery, coordination, and client engagement, all working to balance technical performance, occupant comfort, and long-term value. By highlighting those who succeed, the Awards help set benchmarks and demonstrate what high-quality retrofit looks like in practice.

For 2026, the Retrofit Academy has reviewed every category, criterion, and application question to ensure the Awards remain relevant and robust. The refreshed framework places greater emphasis on measurable outcomes, collaboration, and the wider social and environmental impact of retrofit. It reflects both the evolving sector and lessons learned from previous years.

Entries are assessed by an independent judging panel, from across policy, academia, and delivery, to ensure transparency and credibility. This reinforces the value of recognition: winning or being shortlisted demonstrates that your work meets rigorous, sector-wide standards.

This process aligns with the work of the National Retrofit Conference Advisory Group, whose members help shape the NRC programme. Their guidance ensures that recognition and discussion are connected: the Awards showcase achievement, and the Conference explores the lessons behind it. Together, they create a platform for progress, reflection, and sector-wide learning.

Ultimately, the Retrofit Academy Awards and the National Retrofit Conference are about building a movement rooted in quality, integrity, and shared purpose – a framework for the sector to learn from each other and raise the bar collectively.

This is what it means to lead the race to the top.

Enter the 2026 Retrofit Academy Awards before Friday 28 November to celebrate your achievements, highlight high-quality retrofit work, innovative solutions, and measurable impact on homes, communities, and energy efficiency.

To maximise your presence at this event as a market leader, become a sponsor and engage directly with the professionals driving standards forward.