Global Offshore Wind Awards 2026

Individual award

A recognition of the RenewableUK Future Leaders Programme, now in its ninth year, this award celebrates the “ones to watch”—individuals already standing out among their peers and demonstrating exceptional potential to lead the offshore wind sector into the future.

The renewable energy industry depends on a cohort of empowered, inspired, and diverse leaders to take the reins and deliver net zero. This category recognises those who are not only showing strong leadership qualities today, but who are actively shaping the future of the sector through their ambition, influence, and commitment.

Critera

Nominees should provide evidence of: 

• Driving innovative projects 
• Advocating or spearheading initiatives 
• A focus on impact and collaboration 
• A passion for innovation and creativity 
• Visionary thinking and bold plans for industry 

Note: Participation in the RenewableUK Future Leaders programme is not a prerequisite for applying to this category, although we would encourage future applications. The next programme will run from December 2026.

Individual award

Recognising apprentices who have shown exceptional dedication, growth, and contribution within the offshore wind sector. Nominees should demonstrate a strong commitment to learning, personal development, and making a meaningful impact within their teams.

This award celebrates individuals who have embraced the opportunities of their apprenticeship, applied their skills in real-world environments, and shown clear potential to contribute to the future of the industry.

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of 

• Professional development and learning milestones 
• Contributions to team success or projects 
• Initiative and problem-solving 
• Positive feedback from supervisors or peer

Individual award

Recognising individuals, typically in senior roles, who have consistently driven progress across the offshore wind sector. This award celebrates those who bring clarity and momentum to complex challenges, make sound, strategic decisions, and deliver tangible results. These are trusted leaders whose experience, judgement, and steady influence underpin successful outcomes and help advance the clean energy transition at scale.

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of: 

• Making tangible impact in moving projects or initiatives forward 

• Proven leadership and accountability, with sector-wide thinking 

• Strategic thinking and decisive action 

• Role-modelling collaborative and delivery-focused behaviour 

Individual award

This category shines a light on those in less visible roles whose contributions underpin organisational success across a wide range of functions and disciplines. Whether through operational excellence, enabling others to perform at their best, or quietly driving progress and stability, these individuals are essential to the effectiveness and resilience of their teams and organisations.

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of: 

• Consistent high performance and reliability 

• Supportive and collaborative behaviour 

• Impact on team morale or delivery 

• Specific examples of going above and beyond. 

Organisation or project

Recognising strategic, commercial, or socially impactful collaborations that advance offshore wind in innovative or replicable ways. This could include project joint ventures, cross-sector partnerships, or initiatives benefiting local communities.

At its core, this award reflects the belief that we move fastest when we move together, and that our best work is delivered through strong, purposeful partnerships. It celebrates collaborations that harness collective expertise, align shared ambition, and demonstrate how powerful cooperation can accelerate progress and help lead the sector forward.

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of: 

• The nature and uniqueness of the collaboration 

• Tangible benefits delivered (commercial, strategic or social) 

• Replicability or wider impact across the sector. 

Organisation or project

As the sector continues to scale, the role of a well-coordinated, agile, and forward-thinking supply chain is increasingly critical to project success. This award celebrates initiatives that demonstrate smarter ways of organising, collaborating, and delivering across the supply chain - unlocking efficiencies, reducing risk, and enabling innovation at pace.

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of: 

• Innovation and originality of the idea 

• Measurable improvements or outcomes 

• Environmental or economic impact 

• Industry adoption or market potential 

• Economic value  

Organisation or project

Asset management plays a vital role in ensuring the long-term performance, reliability, and value of offshore wind projects. As the sector matures, this award recognises organisations or partnerships that have implemented innovative, applied solutions which optimise the operation and stewardship of assets. Eligible entries must demonstrate impact in live environments, beyond the R&D stage. 

The award also recognises approaches that consider the full lifecycle of a project, including strategies that support life extension, repowering, or responsible decommissioning. 

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of: 

• Operational performance improvements through implemented solutions 

• Use of data, digital tools, or AI to support decision-making and maintenance strategies 

• Demonstrable safety, efficiency, or sustainability benefits 

• A culture of continuous improvement and long-term asset care. 

Organisation or project

Recognising landmark transactions that demonstrate a commitment to innovate, accelerate, or grow the deployment of offshore wind farms or the industrial base of the industry.

This award celebrates pioneering approaches to financial structuring, risk management, and the deployment of private capital that underpin successful and timely project delivery, build sustained investor confidence, and enhance the value and capacity of the sector.

It also recognises the critical levers required to get complex deals over the line, including insightful and considered legal, advisory, and commercial support. As such, the award is open to any of the contributing organisations or roles involved in enabling a transaction.

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of achieving some or all of: 

• Innovative financial models, structures or contracting strategies that accelerate projects 

• Effective mitigation and management of risks 

• Contributions to investment confidence and attraction of increased investment capital to the sector 

• Scalability or replicability across future offshore wind projects or supply chain capacity.

Organisation or project

Recognising providers and adopters of digital, cyber, or AI tools that are transforming offshore wind operations, enhancing security, and delivering commercial value. As the sector enters a new era of advanced digital thinking and innovation, the way we design, build, operate, and ultimately decommission projects is rapidly evolving. 

This award celebrates the wide range of digital applications enabling this transformation, from project-level strategies and integrated systems to the specialist suppliers and technologies making them possible. Entries should demonstrate how digital innovation is driving smarter decision-making, improving efficiency and resilience, and unlocking new ways of working across the full lifecycle of offshore wind projects 

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of: 

• Technology applications in live environments 

• Improved performance, security, or efficiency 

• Innovation and industry relevance 

• Commercial and operational impact. 

Organisation, project, initiative or individual

Recognising stewardship and innovations that protect ecosystems and reduce environmental impacts across offshore wind. As a sector central to climate action, offshore wind must deliver clean energy while safeguarding the health of our planet.

This award celebrates organisations and projects embedding environmental responsibility across the full lifecycle—from assessment and design through to operation and decommissioning. From improving environmental processes to delivering tangible ecological benefits, entries should demonstrate a clear commitment to supporting biodiversity and enabling a truly sustainable energy transition.

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of: 

• Environmental impact reduction or mitigation 

• Sustainability initiatives or restoration projects 

• Monitoring and compliance measures 

• Long-term ecological benefits. 

Organisation, project, initiative or individual 

Recognising initiatives that place community engagement at the heart of offshore wind development, ensuring that the opportunities and benefits of renewable energy are shared across society. As the sector grows, meaningful engagement with local communities is essential—not only to build trust and social licence, but to ensure projects are shaped in collaboration with those they impact.

This award celebrates organisations and projects that go beyond consultation, demonstrating inclusive, transparent, and responsive approaches that reflect community needs and priorities. Entries should highlight how engagement has informed project delivery, created local value, and ensured that the benefits of the energy transition are felt widely and equitably.

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of: 

• Effective and inclusive community engagement approaches 

• Investment in local skills, jobs, or supply chains 

• Evidence of positive social value or stories of community benefit 

• Strategies that reshape public perception or encourage long-term trust. 

Organisation or project

Recognising organisations or initiatives committed to improving health, safety, and wellbeing in offshore wind operations. This award celebrates those who are embedding strong safety cultures, prioritising workforce wellbeing, and implementing practical innovations that protect and support their people. Entries should demonstrate how these efforts are not only improving outcomes on the ground, but also shaping more resilient, responsible, and high-performing organisations.

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of: 

• Safety performance improvements 

• Health and wellness initiatives 

• Training, competence, and engagement 

• Risk management and innovation 

Organisation or project

Recognising efforts to grow, support, and diversify the offshore wind workforce through skills development, attraction, retention, and improved accessibility across the sector. This award celebrates organisations and initiatives that are strengthening the talent pipeline - opening up opportunities, investing in people, and removing barriers to entry and progression. Entries should demonstrate how these efforts are creating a more diverse, capable, and future-ready workforce, helping to ensure the sector can meet the demands of the energy transition.

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of: 

• Inclusive training and development programmes 

• School or community engagement 

• Attraction, retention, or upskilling strategies 

• Sector-wide or cross-disciplinary impact. 

Organisation or project

Recognising organisations that are embedding diversity, and inclusion at the heart of their leadership, culture, and workforce development.

This award celebrates those taking meaningful, measurable action to drive change—whether through inclusive leadership, equitable opportunities, or initiatives that attract, retain, and support diverse talent. Entries should demonstrate how EDI is being actively integrated into business strategy and day-to-day operations, creating lasting impact for individuals, organisations, and the wider sector.

Criteria

Nominees should provide evidence of: 

• Inclusive leadership and organisational culture 

• Equity-focussed strategies and programmes 

• Representation and accessibility initiatives 

• Measurable improvements in EDI outcomes

• Consideration of service leavers encouraged.  

Each submission should include a completed entry form and supporting information demonstrating how the entry meets the category criteria. Please provide clear information on the nominated project, initiative, or individual, as well as details of the company and individual submitting the nomination. This ensures the Awards team can accurately recognise all contributors and, if necessary, contact the submitting organisation ahead of the Awards.

Yes. Please ensure that the submission clearly meets the criteria for each category entered.

The RenewableUK Global Offshore Wind Awards are open to member and non-member companies, projects, initiatives, and individuals that meet the criteria outlined for each category.

Entries are assessed by a panel of industry experts, including members of the RenewableUK Shadow Board, as well as in-house technical and policy specialists from RenewableUK. All entries are evaluated against the published criteria for each category.

Winners will receive an award trophy – presented on stage -and recognition across Awards communications and media channels.

We welcome submissions from projects, initiatives, and companies that have previously featured in the Awards, including past nominees and shortlisted entries. If a nomination was a winning entry, we ask that it is not re-submitted for the same award category. However, the project, individual, or initiative may be submitted in other relevant categories

Yes. You may submit multiple entries across different categories, provided each submission meets the relevant criteria.

No – RenewableUK does not charge an application fee. Attendance at the Awards ceremony is strongly encouraged. Please refer to the overview tab for pricing.

Judges will evaluate entries based on factors such as innovation, impact, delivery, and alignment with category objectives. We politely request that submissions are not AI-generated.