For exceptional team working leading to significant achievement.

Judging criteria- total 30 points:

• Team performance and achievements (10 points)
• Institutional benefit (measurable impact) (10 points)
• Portability, applicability to a wider audience, sector benefit (10 points)

To reward a member of staff, working in estates or facilities, who is making an exceptional contribution and demonstrates great potential for the future. This could be someone brand new to the sector or perhaps an individual who already has career experience but is fresh to estates/facilities management.

The gold winner of this award will also receive a special contribution towards their personal and professional development.

Judging criteria- total 30 points:

• Performance/Achievements (10 points)
• Contribution to team, institution, mission (10 points)
• Wider significance of achievements/portability (10 points)

Recognition for a specific initiative having a significant positive impact on the institution, the sector and/or the profession. AUDE encourage applications that have a carbon reduction impact.  

Judging criteria- total 30 points:

• Institutional benefit (measurable achievement and impact) (10 points)
• Portability, applicability to a wider audience, sector benefit (10 points)
• Innovativeness (10 points)

The EDI award seeks to recognise an individual or institution that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the promotion of EDI in estates and facilities management.

Judging criteria- total 30 points:

• Impact and approach (10 points)
• Wider significance of achievements/portability (10 points)
• Learning and continuous improvement (10 points)

For those that have gone above and beyond the usual realm of their institution, benefiting their local community and having a positive impact on those outsides of the usual student and staff community.

Judging criteria- total 30 points:

• Performance/Achievements (10 points)
• Benefit to wider community (10 points)
• Innovativeness (10 points)

This award, in partnership with the University Design Forum, recognises small scale, low-budget design interventions within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that deliver high-impact improvements to the educational environment. While large capital projects often receive awards, modest schemes, whether that be architectural, interior, landscape, or public art, can profoundly enhance the student and staff experience. This category highlights innovative, agile, and contextually sensitive designs completed between 1 August 2023 and 31 July 2025, with a total project value under £1 million (ex VAT). Whether refreshing existing spaces or creating new ones, these HEI-based projects demonstrate how thoughtful design can inspire, support wellbeing, and foster a sense of place in higher education.

The gold winner of this award will additionally receive a complimentary place to attend the University Design Forum Annual Conference in Belfast.

Judging criteria- total 30 points:

• Impact on Educational Experience (10 points)
• Design Quality and Innovation (10 points)
• Value and Sustainability (10 points)

As this is a design award, the following supporting documents are required:

• Standard Project Data Sheet (1 x A4)
• User feedback/POE summary sheet (1 x A4)
• Before and after images sheet (1 x A3)
• Further illustrations to include: one primary image of the completed space/s (1 x A3), plans, sections and elevations (4 x A3*) and sketches/model photos (1 x A3) as helpful to explain the design.

* Where more than one sheet is stated, this is the maximum number of pages/sizes to be submitted.

For achievements benefitting the higher education estates/FM community, by an individual, over an extended period of time in a senior position. 

AUDE’s sixth Summer School development programme took place in June 2025 where 50 of the sector’s aspiring future leaders had the opportunity to enhance their knowledge, stretch their thinking and embark on a six-month team project. The winning project will receive the Summer School award for their work, effort and contribution to the sector they will also have the opportunity to present their report to colleagues at the annual conference. 

This award is open to all those who supply products and services to the Higher Education Sector. A chance for our institutions to recognise and celebrate your contributions to helping us achieve our strategic goals and ambitions.

This Award is open to any supplier of any size.

Judging criteria
In order for AUDE to assess your application we want you to detail;

• One major project/service or initiative you have delivered within the last 3 years.
• How you have supported the sector in general terms.
• How you have worked with and supported AUDE.
• The award has 50 criterion available for judges to award, allocated to each element as shown below.
• Project performance and achievement (10 points)
• Clients brief met, evidence and success (10 points)
• Transferable learnings to a wider audience (10 points)
• Support for sector and AUDE (10 points)
• Supporting evidence (10 points)