Categories and Criteria

These air conditioning awards recognise excellence in products and installations that support air conditioning systems within any application. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of relevant project completed or product launched or onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Full Criteria: The Air Conditioning Product of the Year Award is open to all companies that produce a product or set of products that is a key element of an air conditioning system.

Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Which refrigerant gases are supported and why
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Energy efficiency advantages
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive units
• Lifetime running costs, payback period, etc.
• Any features that simplify installation and maintenance.

The Air Conditioning Ancillaries Award recognises excellence in products that support air conditioning technologies and installations. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant product launched onto the market after November 2024.

Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive units
• Any features that simplify installation, performance, servicing and/or maintenance.

These air conditioning awards recognise excellence in products and installations that support air conditioning systems within any application. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of relevant project completed or product launched or onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Full Criteria: The Chiller of the Year Award is open to all companies that produce chillers.

Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Which refrigerant gases are supported and why
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Energy efficiency advantages
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive units
• Lifetime running costs, payback period, etc.
• Any features that simplify installation and maintenance.

These air conditioning awards recognise excellence in products and installations that support air conditioning systems within any application. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of relevant project completed or product launched or onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Full Criteria: The Air Conditioning Project of the Year Award is open to all companies involved in an air conditioning focused project which demonstrates a holistic approach as well as true efficiency, sustainability and environmentally conscious measures.

Entries should include:
• The principles of the project brief
• The environmental benefits
• Challenges and solutions
• Testimonials
• The refrigerant gas used
• Details of any new technology or unique configurations
• Benefits and potential cost savings.

These refrigeration awards recognise excellence in products and installations that support refrigeration systems within any application. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant project completed or relevant product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Full Criteria: The Refrigeration Product of the Year Award is open to all companies that produce a product or set of products that is a key element of a refrigeration system.

Entries should include:
• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Which refrigerant gases are supported and why
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Energy efficiency advantages
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive units
• Lifetime running costs, payback period, etc.
• Any features that simplify installation and maintenance.

The Retail Product of the Year Award recognises excellence in products within the refrigerated display sector. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive units
• Any features that simplify installation, performance, servicing and/or maintenance.

The Refrigeration Ancillary of the Year Award recognises excellence in products that support the refrigeration sector. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive units
• Any features that simplify installation, performance, servicing and/or maintenance. 

These refrigeration awards recognise excellence in products and installations that support refrigeration systems within any application. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant project completed or relevant product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Full Criteria: The Refrigeration Project of the Year Award is open all companies involved in a refrigeration focused project which demonstrates a holistic approach as well as true efficiency, sustainability and environmentally conscious measures.

Entries should include:

• The principles of the project brief
• The environmental benefits
• Challenges and solutions
• Testimonials
• The refrigerant gas used
• Details of any new technology or unique configurations
• Benefits and potential cost savings.

These heat pump awards recognise excellence in products that use heat pump technologies to their best advantage. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Full Criteria: The Domestic Air Source Heat Pump of the Year Award is open all companies that produce air source heat pumps specifically for the domestic sector which include both heating and cooling.

Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Which refrigerant gases are supported and why
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Energy efficiency advantages
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive units
• Lifetime running costs, payback period, etc.
• Any features that simplify installation and maintenance.

These heat pump awards recognise excellence in products that use heat pump technologies to their best advantage. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Full Criteria: The Commercial Air Source Heat Pump of the Year Award is open all companies that produce air source heat pumps specifically for the commercial sector.

Entries should include:
• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Which refrigerant gases are supported and why
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Energy efficiency advantages
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive units
• Lifetime running costs, payback period, etc.
• Any features that simplify installation and maintenance.

These heat pump awards recognise excellence in products and installations that support refrigeration systems within any application. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant project completed or relevant product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Full Criteria: The Commercial Ground Source Heat Pump of the Year Award is open to all companies that produce ground source heat pumps that include cooling capabilities.

Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Which refrigerant gases are supported and why
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Energy efficiency advantages
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive units
• Lifetime running costs, payback period, etc.
• Any features that simplify installation and maintenance.

The Heat Pump Project of the Year Award is open to all companies involved in a heat pump-focused project which demonstrates a holistic approach as well as true efficiency, sustainability and environmentally conscious measures. The project must have been completed since November 2024.

Entries should include:

• The principles of the project brief
• The environmental benefits
• Challenges and solutions
• Testimonials
• The refrigerant gas used
• Details of any new technology or unique configurations
• Benefits and potential cost savings.

These humidity control awards recognise excellence in products that use humidification or dehumidification technologies to their best advantage. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant project completed or product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Full Criteria: The Humidity Control Product of the Year Award is open to all companies that produce humidification or dehumidification equipment.

Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Energy efficiency advantages
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive units
• Lifetime running costs, payback period, etc.
• Any features that simplify installation and maintenance.

These humidity control awards recognise excellence in products that use humidification or dehumidification technologies to their best advantage. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant project completed or product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Full Criteria: The Humidity Control Project of the Year Award is open to all companies involved in a humidification or dehumidification focused project which demonstrates a holistic approach as well as true efficiency, sustainability and environmentally conscious measures.

Entries should include:

• The principles of the project brief
• The environmental benefits
• Challenges and solutions
• Testimonials
• Details of any new technology or unique configurations
• Benefits and potential cost savings.

The Maintenance Product of the Year Award recognises excellence in products that support the ongoing service and maintenance of refrigeration or air conditioning sectors. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

 Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive products
• Any features that simplify installation, performance, servicing and/or maintenance.

The Instrumentation Product of the Year Award recognises excellence in instrumentation used to support the refrigeration or air conditioning sectors. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

 Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive products
• Any features that simplify installation, performance, servicing and/or maintenance.

These ancillary awards recognise excellence in products that support air conditioning or refrigeration technologies and installations. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Full Criteria: The Treatment/Fluid of the Year Award is open to all companies that produce a treatment or fluid that effectively supports air conditioning or refrigeration systems.

Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive units
• Any features that simplify servicing and maintenance.

These ancillary awards recognise excellence in products that support air conditioning or refrigeration technologies and installations. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024.

Full Criteria: The Tool/Accessory of the Year Award is open to all companies that produce tools or accessories that effectively assist engineers and technicians performing maintenance for air conditioning or refrigeration systems. Examples could be a small tool or accessory carried by an engineer, or an accessory fitted to a unit that allows an engineer access.

Entries should include:
• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive units
• Any features that simplify servicing and maintenance.

The Smart ACR Product of the Year Award recognises excellence in smart controls used in the refrigeration or air conditioning sectors. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant product launched onto the UK market after November 1, 2024. 

Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive products

Any features that simplify installation, performance, servicing and/or maintenance.

The Smart Controller of the Year Award recognises excellence in smart controls used in the refrigeration or air conditioning sectors. This award is open to the manufacturer or its representative agent (entering on the manufacturer’s behalf) of any relevant product launched onto the market after November 2024.

Entries should include:

• Testimonials
• The level of research and development devoted to the new product
• Key technological features
• Target market and how this product differs from competitors
• Any environmental issues that the product addresses
• Price-wise, how the product compares with competitive products
• Any features that simplify installation, performance, servicing and/or maintenance.

These wholesaler/distributor awards are designed to acknowledge the hard work put in by these companies and the individuals within that act as a vital cog within the ACR industry, linking manufacturers with engineers on the frontline.

These awards are open to all air conditioning and/or refrigeration wholesalers or distributors operating in the UK. For the purposes of these awards, a wholesaler is defined as a company offering a wide range of products in the form of a ‘one-stop shop’ for the air conditioning and refrigeration engineer. A distributor will be an independent company looking after the sales and distribution of one or more companies or products.

Full Criteria: The Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year Award is open to all wholesalers and distributors that specialise in or have a significant air conditioning or refrigeration product offering.

Entries should include:

• Details of branches and locations
• Range of products supplied
• Approximate value of stockholding
• Normal hours of business and out-of-hours service
• Type and speed of deliveries offered
• Technical support
• Design service
• Training (for staff and customers)
• Details of your USPs
• Testimonials
• 500 words describing why you should be considered for this Award.

These wholesaler/distributor awards are designed to acknowledge the hard work put in by these companies and the individuals within that act as a vital cog within the ACR industry, linking manufacturers with engineers on the frontline.

These awards are open to all air conditioning and/or refrigeration wholesalers or distributors operating in the UK. For the purposes of these awards, a wholesaler is defined as a company offering a wide range of products in the form of a ‘one-stop shop’ for the air conditioning and refrigeration engineer. A distributor will be an independent company looking after the sales and distribution of one or more companies or products.

Full Criteria: The Technical Support Team/Engineer of the Year Award is open to all technical support individuals and teams within wholesaler or distributor businesses that have gone above and beyond to support customers.

Entries should include:

• Testimonials from customers
• 500 words describing why you should be considered for this Award.
• Areas of expertise and the services you can offer clients
• How you keep up to date with the latest products and technological developments.
• Showing outstanding contribution to the workplace – in particular, areas or projects where expectations have been exceeded.

These wholesaler/distributor awards are designed to acknowledge the hard work put in by these companies and the individuals within that act as a vital cog within the ACR industry, linking manufacturers with engineers on the frontline.

These awards are open to all air conditioning and/or refrigeration wholesalers or distributors operating in the UK. For the purposes of these awards, a wholesaler is defined as a company offering a wide range of products in the form of a ‘one-stop shop’ for the air conditioning and refrigeration engineer. A distributor will be an independent company looking after the sales and distribution of one or more companies or products.

Full Criteria: The Customer Service Individual/Team of the Year Award is open to all individuals and teams within wholesaler or distributor businesses that have gone above and beyond to support customers.

Entries should include:

• Testimonials from customers
• 500 words describing why you should be considered for this Award.
• Areas of expertise and the services you can offer clients
• Showing outstanding contribution to the workplace – in particular, areas or projects where expectations have been exceeded.

The Sales Person of the Year Award is open to all sales individuals within the ACR industry who have gone above and beyond for both company and client in the last 12 months. 

Entries should include:

• Demonstrating commitment to personal development and progression
• Showing outstanding contribution to the workplace
• Inspirational levels of support and collaboration
• People skills and relationship building

Testimonials from employer, customers

These training awards shine a light on the new and upcoming talent within the industry as well as those people and businesses who train, support and otherwise mentor that talent.

Full Criteria: This Trainee of the Year Award is open to all individuals in the UK air conditioning and refrigeration sectors that were an apprentice or trainee over the period 01 November 2024 – 31 August 2025.

Entries should include:

• Apprentice or trainee background
• Demonstrating commitment to personal development and progression
• Showing outstanding contribution to the workplace – in particular, areas or projects where expectations have been exceeded
• Demonstrating inspirational levels of achievement and attainment
• Fitting in with the team – people skills and relationship building
• Testimonials from employer, customers and college tutors
• Personal statement from the apprentice.

These training awards shine a light on the new and upcoming talent within the industry as well as those people and businesses who train, support and otherwise mentor that talent.

Full Criteria: The Training provider of the Year Award is open to all companies that provide specialist training to engineers in the UK air conditioning and refrigeration sectors.

Entries should include:

• Evidence of how your business is supporting the training needs of engineers
• Evidence of how the training offered in your organisation makes you stand out from the crowd. How are you differentiating your training programmes from that of your competitors and how is that impacting the engineers.
• Evidence of sustained growth in customers using your training services including strategic detail regarding future growth.

These training awards shine a light on the new and upcoming talent within the industry as well as those people and businesses who train, support and otherwise mentor that talent.

Full Criteria: The Training provider of the Year Award is open to all companies that provide specialist training to engineers in the UK air conditioning and refrigeration sectors.

Entries should include:

• Evidence of how your business is supporting the training needs of engineers
• Evidence of how the training offered in your organisation makes you stand out from the crowd. How are you differentiating your training programmes from that of your competitors and how is that impacting the engineers.
• Evidence of sustained growth in customers using your training services including strategic detail regarding future growth.

The Retrofit Project of the Year Award is open to all companies involved in a retrofit-focused project which demonstrates a holistic approach as well as true efficiency, sustainability and environmentally conscious measures. The project must have been completed since November 2024.

Entries should include:

• The principles of the project brief
• The environmental benefits
• Challenges and solutions
• Testimonials
• The refrigerant gas used
• Details of any new technology or unique configurations
• Benefits and potential cost savings.

These awards are designed to recognise businesses that have made proactive efforts to improve their brand image and be seen to contribute towards the wider society.

Full Criteria: This Community Initiative of the Year Award is open to all companies within the ACR industry that have contributed towards the betterment of their local communities.

Entries should include:

• The principles of the initiative
• The benefits to people or community
• Engagement details.

The Diversity in Industry Award is open to all companies within the ACR industry that have implemented diverse and inclusive policies and culture within their business since November 2024.

Entries should include evidence of:

• D&I that is driven from the executive level down
• Clear policies and strategies

• Practical actions
• Inclusive recruitment and talent management
• Workplace culture and employee engagement

• Progress in terms of tangible data
• Testimonials.

These awards are designed to recognise businesses that have made proactive efforts to improve their brand image and be seen to contribute towards the wider society.

Full Criteria: This Environmental Initiative of the Year Award is open to all companies within the ACR industry that have driven proactively sought to reduce its own impact on the environment.

Entries should include:

• The principles of the initiative
• The benefits to the environment
• Metrics demonstrating real benefits
• Engagement details.

Full Criteria: This Industry Initiative of the Year Award is open to any person or company that has driven and led an industry focused initiative within the ACR industry. The initiative must have been implemented after November 2024

Entries should include:

• The principles of the initiative
• The benefits
• Engagement details.

Full Criteria: This Contractor of the Year Award is open to all air conditioning and/or refrigeration contractors.

Entries should include:

• Turnover
• Type of work undertaken (AC, refrigeration, domestic/commercial/industrial, installation/maintenance, splits/VRFs etc.)
• List three design types undertaken since 01 November 2024.
• Describe scope of service capability (call outs, warranties etc).
• Contract and service control methods (costs, personnel and project)
• Quality control (internal, inspections, testing, H&S)
• Any quality credentials (ISO etc)
• Workforce analysis (number of employees, subs, qualifications held etc)
• How the company has developed between 02 November 2024 and 01 November 2025.
• Participation in the wider industry (associations etc).
• Describe a contract completed in the last 12 months of which your company has reason to be proud.

Full Criteria: This Consultant of the Year Award is open to all building services consultancies involved in the ACR industry.

Entries should include:

• Areas of expertise and the services you can offer clients
• The percentage of your work that includes the design of systems using air conditioning and/or refrigeration equipment
• How you keep up to date with the latest products and technological developments.
• Briefly describe the type and scope of projects you have undertaken since November 1, 2024
• What technologies these projects have used and why were they selected.
• How you are tackling the requirement for energy efficient and sustainable building design
• How you facilitate the liaison between client, architect, contractor and the equipment suppliers to ensure efficient project management and client satisfaction

The Environmental Hero of the Year Award is open to all individuals within the ACR industry who have proactively sought to reduce any negative impact on the environment at any level over the last 12 months.

Entries should include:

• Goals
• Execution
• The benefits to the environment
• Metrics demonstrating real benefits
• Testimonials
• Why this individual is a true environmental hero

Full Criteria: This Service Engineer of the Year Award is open to all air conditioning and/or refrigeration service engineers.

Entries should include:

• Type of work undertaken
• Personal development between 02 November 2024 and 01 November 2025
• Participation in the wider industry (associations etc)
• Describe how the engineer has gone over and above the call of duty
• Describe a contract completed in the last 12 months of which the engineer has reason to be particularly proud

Full Criteria: This Service Engineer of the Year Award is open to all air conditioning and/or refrigeration service engineers.

Entries should include:

• Type of work undertaken
• Personal development between 02 November 2024 and 01 November 2025
• Participation in the wider industry (associations etc)
• Describe how the engineer has gone over and above the call of duty
• Describe a contract completed in the last 12 months of which the engineer has reason to be particularly proud

The Equality Trailblazer Award is open to all individuals within the ACR industry who have driven or supported diversity in any or all of its forms within either their business or the wider industry since November 2024. 

Entries should include:

• Goals
• Achievements
• Impact
• Testimonials
• Why this person is an equality trailblazer.

Full Criteria: This Industry Initiative of the Year Award is open to any person or company that has driven and led an industry focused initiative within the ACR industry. The initiative must have been implemented after November 2024

Entries should include:

• The principles of the initiative
• The benefits
• Engagement details.