Aico’s Community Awards 2026 brought together leaders, innovators, and changemakers from across the social housing and fire safety sectors for an unforgettable evening of recognition, inspiration, and celebration.

The Guests

The evening commenced with a warm welcome from returning host Carl Jones, followed by a powerful speech from Kevin Sinfield, who spoke about the impact of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) on his close friend Rob Burrow and countless others around the world. Aico is proud to support the MND Association and name it as its chosen charity for the 2026 awards.

The evening also featured a standout comedy performance from Ignacio Lopez, and an electrifying musical performance by Soho Collective, whose energy and talent brought the ICC to life and provided a memorable close to the night.

Aico extends its sincere thanks to the panel of judges who each presented the awards. They faced the challenging task of selecting winners from an exceptional pool of entries, each demonstrating remarkable dedication and impact.

The Awards

A new addition to this year’s event, the People’s Choice Award, created a buzz of excitement as attendees voted live on the night. The interactive element was a resounding success, and the winner was announced at the end of the awards ceremony.

This year’s awards were uniquely handcrafted by students at Severndale Academy, a specialist school supporting children and young people with special educational needs across Shropshire and Telford. Catering for learners aged 2 to 25, the Academy provides an inclusive and inspiring educational environment. Each award was created using coloured fused glass, thoughtfully designed to represent the tree featured in the Aico in the Community logo. You can watch how these beautiful pieces were made here.

Neal closed the awards evening with a speech that reflected on the importance of the Community Awards, emphasising Aico’s commitment to supporting both the sector and the communities it serves. He highlighted how recognising inspirational individuals, organisations, and initiatives helps to champion excellence, encourage knowledge sharing, and foster collaboration in creating safer homes.

Following an incredible evening, Aico is delighted to officially announce the winners of the Community Awards 2026, celebrating outstanding achievements, innovation, and commitment across the sector.

Community Awards 2026 Winners:

 

Apprentice of the Year Award: Emily-Jane Simmons

Best Distributor Community Initiative Award: City Electrical Factors NW London

Collaborative Partnership Award: Equans

College Initiative of the Year Award: Cheshire College South and West

Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative Award: Smith & Byford

Electrical Contractor of the Year Award: Magnus Electrical Services

Inspirational Colleague of the Year Award: Steve Messenger from Booker & Best

Lifetime Achievement Award: June Anderson from Clackmannanshire Tenants & Residents Federation

Neighbourhood Transformation Award: Mid Devon District Council & Zed Pods Limited

People’s Choice Award: Wolverhampton Homes

Resident Engagement Award: Magenta Living

Rising Star Award: Alfie Squirrell from Wiggett Group

Sustainability Project of the Year Award: H&A Group

Woman in Fire Safety Award: Martina Lydon from WHG

Thank you to everyone who applied for the 2026 awards. Together, we are striving for excellence in the housing industry.

We look forward to doing it all over again in 2028!

News – Aico