Waterman Aspen
Waterman Aspen welcomes engineers and technical specialists to make their mark on some of the biggest infrastructure projects across the UK on a secondment basis.
The ICE East Midlands Merit Awards (EMMAs) celebrate projects of all sizes and scopes from across the region, as well as individual civil and infrastructure engineering achievements.
Our 2026 ICE EMMAs, sponsored by Waterman Aspen
Entry has closed for this year's awards.
Book your seat or table at our awards ceremony today.
Our 2026 awards sponsors
Headline sponsor
Awards sponsors
Taylor Woodrow
Taylor Woodrow's vision is to engineer sustainable infrastructure for today and tomorrow. The assets we build support the UK’s Net Zero environmental transition, unlock mobility through improvements to the highways and rail networks and enhance living standards through urban realm regeneration.
WM Plant Hire
WM Plant Hire is dedicated to long reach solutions. With over 50 years of industry experience and one of the largest fleet of long reach machines in the UK, their specialist knowledge and dedication adds real value to customers, enabling efficient project delivery.
Could you be our next awards sponsor?
With local representation and multiple options from single award through to headline sponsor for all 12 regions, we have a sponsorship package tailored to you. Get in touch with the team today.
Our 2025 awards winners
Project awards
Ranging from a Social Value award to multi-million-pound projects, these awards celebrate innovative projects across our region.
Team Achievement Award
Mott MacDonald Bentley and Severn Trent Water
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Mott MacDonald Bentley and Severn Trent Water
Mott MacDonald Bentley and Severn Trent Water received the Merit Award for their Ompton Emergency UV Response.
Due to flooding in Nottinghamshire following Storm Babet, the project team compressed a two-year design and build programme into just four weeks. The teams collaborated to design, procure, construct and commission a new UV system capable of delivering 20 million litres of water per day.
MWH Treatment were Highly Commended for the Witches Oak Project Delivery Team.
Carbon and Sustainability Award
Strategic Pipeline Alliance
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Strategic Pipeline Alliance
Anglian Water Services received the Merit Award for their Strategic Pipeline Alliance, which covers a wide area across the East of England, stretching from North Lincolnshire in the East Midlands to Suffolk and Essex.
This project will transfer 256 million litres of water through 320km of underground interconnecting pipelines, enabling water to move from wetter to drier areas to help combat the future risk of droughts.
Highly Commended was AtkinsRéalis, Severn Trent Water and Whitehouse Construction for Richard Bonington School SuDS Retrofit project located in Nottingham.
Innovation and Technical Excellence Award
Storm Spill Reduction Programme: Shaft Automation Tool
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Storm Spill Reduction Programme: Shaft Automation Tool
The Merit Award was presented to Galliford Try and GHD for their Storm Spill Reduction Programme: Shaft Automation Tool.
The project used an automated shaft design tool to help investigate stormwater spills, which streamlines shaft design by automating complex calculations, saving time and improving efficiency.
Large Project Award
Melton Mowbray Sewage Treatment Works
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Melton Mowbray Sewage Treatment Works
MWH Treatment and Severn Trent Water received the Large Project Merit Award for the Melton Mowbray Sewage Treatment Works.
This project achieved significant carbon savings from innovations in ground engineering and temporary works. It was identified that 7m high walls could be designed as tapered sections with no impact on the construction complexity. The revised design saved 368m3 of concrete and 52 tonnes of reinforcing steel in the Activated Sludge Plant structure.
Highly Commended was Balfour Beatty, West Northamptonshire Council and WSP for the Northampton North-West Relief Road Collaboration.
Small Project Award
Derwent Urgent Scour Protection project
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Derwent Urgent Scour Protection project
The Derwent Urgent Scour Protection project, submitted by Jackson Civil Engineering and the Environment Agency, won the Small Project Award.
Following storms in 2024, the River Derwent experienced significant erosion, revealing a scour trench and threatening critical infrastructure. The team undertook urgent works that saw them place rock armour and reprofile the riverbanks, balancing flood protection with environmental considerations.
Highly Commended was Danaher & Walsh Civil Engineering and BWB Consulting Engineers for the Watkin Road Bridge Replacement project.
Social Value Award
Lincolnshire County Council, Balfour Beatty, WSP and Colas
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Lincolnshire County Council, Balfour Beatty, WSP and Colas
Lincolnshire County Council, Balfour Beatty, WSP and Colas received the Social Value Award, for their collaborative project entry.
The Lincolnshire Highways Partnership brought together individual volunteer efforts into a coordinated initiative. Using locally based staff, the partnership focused on community projects and promoted STEM through engagement with schools and colleges across Lincolnshire.
Organisation of the Year Award
Severn Trent Water
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Severn Trent Water
Severn Trent Water was named Organisation of the Year, an award given at the judges’ discretion.
Severn Trent Water collaborated with multiple partners across various entries at this year’s ICE East Midlands Merit Awards, from reviewing outline design proposals, identifying sustainable asset reuse opportunities, and ensuring effective stakeholder engagement.
People awards
ICE East Midlands organises and supports awards that showcase the outstanding achievements of ICE members in the region.
Rising Star Award
Beth Richardson
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Rising Star Award
Beth Richardson a sustainability consultant at Arup, won the Rising Star Award.
Richardson led decarbonisation efforts across the Midlands, utilising carbon assessment software and collaborating with design teams to ensure the implementation of low-carbon solutions on projects. She has also mentored secondary school students and spoken on climate resilience at the Civil Engineering Society.
William Kemp Award
Karen Notman
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William Kemp Award
Karen Notman was received the William Kemp Award.
Notman leads a dedicated team at Leicestershire County Council, supporting the Midlands Highway Alliance Plus in highway, transport services and infrastructure delivery.
Due to her expertise, Karen also sits on the East Midlands Infrastructure Partnership (EMIP) Steering group providing input and expertise on transport. EMIP aims to provide informed, strategic and objective advice on behalf of the East Midlands in respect of the critical infrastructure that underpins communities and services.
Individual of the Year Award
Gráinne Murray
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Individual of the Year Award
Gráinne Murray, delivery manager at the Environment Agency, won the Individual of the Year Award.
Murray, who recently achieved ICE Fellowship, was recognised for her long-standing work on the ICE East Midlands Committee and since autumn last year, her work representing the region on the ICE Council.
Working full time at the Environment Agency, Murray is also a member of the East Midlands Infrastructure Partnership Group, where she provides input and expertise on flood-risk.
Regional STEM Ambassador of the Year Award
Emma Rhodes
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Regional STEM Ambassador of the Year Award
Emma Rhodes, technical engineer at Jean Lefebvre (UK), won Regional STEM Ambassador of the Year.
Rhodes was recognised for her commitment to STEM initiatives across Nottingham, where she created a presentation on civil engineering careers and showcased it in local schools.
Mike Barnett, head of service at Leicestershire County Council, was Highly Commended in the same category.