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Celebrating leadership that delivers sustainable growth

ADEPT Chief Executive Officer, Hannah Bartram discusses the launch of the President’s Awards 2026 and looks at why entering your sustainable growth project could mean national recognition for your achievements.

Across local government, climate and environmental leadership is increasingly about delivery.

Turning ambition into action, and action into tangible outcomes for people, place and planet, the ADEPT President’s Awards exist to recognise exactly this kind of innovation and leadership. Submissions are now open for the 2026 awards and so it is an excellent opportunity to reflect on what recent winners and shortlisted projects tell us about the future of sustainable growth, climate leadership and creating resilient places.

The ADEPT President’s Awards will be presented at an evening ceremony following our Spring Conference in London on 13 May 2026. An important moment within our year, it brings together leaders from across the sector to celebrate innovation, collaboration and impact. 

For local authorities and their partners working across climate, environment and economic growth, the delivering sustainable growth category is a particularly powerful opportunity to showcase work that balances prosperity with environmental responsibility.

What does delivering sustainable growth look like in practice?

Over the past few years, recent winners and shortlisted projects have demonstrated that sustainable growth is not a single intervention or policy area. Instead, it is about embedding climate focussed and environmental thinking into planning, infrastructure, business engagement and long-term place strategy.

In 2025, the City of London Corporation won an ADEPT President’s Award for its Thermal Comfort Modelling project, a ground-breaking approach that integrates microclimate analysis directly into the planning process. By combining wind, sunlight, temperature and humidity data, the tool enables planners to understand how developments will actually feel to people using streets, squares and public spaces both now and in a warmer future climate. What makes this work particularly relevant is its ability to shape growth without compromising environmental quality. 

The modelling informs decisions about building massing, public realm design, tree planting and elevated public spaces, ensuring that decisions enhance rather than undermine liveability, resilience and wellbeing. It shows how growth can be climate-aware, people-centred and rooted in place.

Supporting cleaner growth through business leadership

Another powerful example came from Suffolk County Council in, whose Suffolk Carbon Charter won the Delivering Clean Growth award in 2024.

The Charter helped SMEs across Suffolk and Norfolk to reduce carbon emissions and embed sustainable business practices through a tiered accreditation system. Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditation levels encouraged continuous improvement, while Gold businesses became beacons, sharing learning across supply chains and local economies. This approach speaks directly to the spirit of sustainable growth. By supporting SMEs to cut emissions, improve efficiency and build resilience, the Charter strengthened local economies while accelerating the transition to a lower carbon future. 

Why delivery sustainable growth matters

The delivering sustainable growth award asks a clear question of those looking to apply. 

“Are you shaping the future without sacrificing the planet?” 

At a time when local authorities face intense pressure to deliver, this category recognises those who are proving that environmental responsibility and economic ambition can still go hand in hand.

The strongest projects shortlisted by the panel of judges each year demonstrate:

  • Visionary growth strategies that protect and enhance natural assets
  • Collaboration across boundaries and sectors, from communities to investors
  • Meaningful engagement with businesses and residents
  • Long-term thinking that looks beyond short-term funding cycles

From green transport corridors to circular economy hubs, renewable energy partnerships and nature-based flood resilience, we welcome and are keen to hear about bold initiatives that deliver benefits now and for generations to come.

Why enter the ADEPT President’s Awards?

For many past winners, the value of entering goes well beyond the wonderful evening of celebration and perhaps a beautiful trophy. The awards provide broader recognition, networking opportunities and a chance to share learning across the sector. They also create space to reflect on what has been achieved and articulate clearly why it matters.

As recent award recipients have noted, the process of submitting your project can itself be a powerful experience, allowing teams to clarify outcomes and articulate a compelling story about place, impact and leadership. The awards ceremony, held after the ADEPT Spring Conference, offers a rare opportunity to connect with peers facing similar challenges and opportunities.

Showcase your climate and environmental leadership

Submissions for the ADEPT President’s Awards 2026 are now open and are a chance for authorities to highlight how they are delivering sustainable and inclusive growth. Across recent years, award-winning projects have shown that sustainable growth is not abstract or an expensive pipe dream, it is practical, measurable and achievable. By sharing your story, you can help shape the narrative of what good place leadership looks like in a future that needs us all to be more climate aware.

Further information on how to enter, deadlines, category criteria and previous winners is available below.

Further information 

Author  

Hannah Bartram is ADEPT’s Chief Executive Officer 

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