Leading construction company Gilbert-Ash has been recognised for its outstanding commitment to sustainability after winning the Environmental Impact Award at the prestigious Building Awards 2026.
The company picked up the accolade at a glittering ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Tuesday evening (November 3), celebrating its ambitious environmental strategy and impressive progress in reducing its impact on the planet.
The multi-award-winning firm had also been shortlisted for the Net-Zero Award for its work at Paradise SE11 in London, the capital’s lowest-carbon mass-timber office development, while its Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson, was a finalist in the CEO of the Year category.
The Environmental Impact Award recognises Gilbert-Ash’s holistic approach to sustainability, underpinned by its ESG Strategy to 2030, which places environmental responsibility, people and communities at the heart of its operations.
The judges praised Gilbert-Ash for its measurable progress across carbon reduction, waste, biodiversity, resource efficiency and sustainable procurement, highlighting the company’s ability to translate its environmental ambitions into meaningful action.
They were also impressed by how sustainability has been embedded throughout the business, supported by strong accountability, staff engagement and robust performance data.
Gilbert-Ash met 85% of its ESG targets in 2025, with the impressive results backed by meticulous data. Judges praised the firm for demonstrating ‘a genuine organisational commitment to driving environmental progress’.
Among its standout ESG achievements, the company has reduced carbon emissions by 35% against its 2022 baseline, while water consumption fell by 7% during 2025. HVO biofuel is now used on 95% of Gilbert-Ash projects, further demonstrating its commitment to reducing environmental impacts across operations.
The company’s Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson, said the award was a proud moment for everyone across the business.
He said: “This is a tremendous achievement for Gilbert-Ash and a fantastic endorsement of the hard work and commitment of our people, who have embraced our sustainability ambitions and are helping to deliver real change.
“We have always believed that the success of Gilbert-Ash should be measured not just by the quality of the buildings we deliver, but also by the positive difference we make to people, places and the planet.
“Our ESG Strategy to 2030 is not simply about setting ambitious targets – it is about taking responsibility, challenging ourselves to do better and making sustainability part of every decision we take.
“To receive this recognition is incredibly rewarding but we also recognise that there is so much more to do. We will continue to build on this progress alongside our people, our clients and our supply chain partners.”
The winning award entry highlighted how the company completed seven BREEAM-assessed projects in 2025, achieving one Outstanding, four Excellent and two Very Good ratings.
Meanwhile, the company has worked with its suppliers to help them raise standards. Some 180 supply chain partners now hold ISO 14001 accreditation and 40% provide Environmental Product Declarations, giving project teams verified carbon data at the point of specification.