Aico celebrates excellence at Community Awards 2026

The evening began with a 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 proudly supports the MND Association and named the organisation as its chosen charity for the 2026 Community Awards.

The Community Awards also featured a standout comedy performance from Ignacio Lopez and an electrifying musical performance courtesy of the Soho Collective, whose energy and talent enthralled the assembled audience at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham and provided a memorable close to proceedings.

Aico extends its sincere thanks to the panel of Judges. They faced the challenging task of selecting the winners from what was an exceptional pool of entries, each of them demonstrating remarkable dedication and impact.

New addition

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 ceremony.

This year’s Community Awards were uniquely handcrafted by students at the Severndale Academy, a specialist school supporting children and young people with special educational needs across Shropshire and Telford. Catering for learners aged from two to 25 years of age, the Academy affords an inclusive and inspiring educational environment. Each Community Award was created using coloured fused glass, thoughtfully designed to represent the tree featured in the ‘Aico in the Community’ logo.

Managing director Neal Hooper reflected on the importance of the Community Awards, which emphasise Aico’s commitment to supporting both the sector and the communities it serves. 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.

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 (Booker & Best)

*Lifetime Achievement Award: June Anderson (Clackmannanshire Tenants and Residents Federation)

*Neighbourhood Transformation Award: Mid Devon District Council and Zed Pods Limited

*People's Choice Award: Wolverhampton Homes

*Resident Engagement Award: Magenta Living

*Rising Star Award: Alfie Squirrell (Wiggett Group)

*Sustainability Project of the Year Award: H&A Group

*Woman in Fire Safety Award: Martina Lydon (WHG)

Aico wishes to thank everyone who submitted an entry for the 2026 Community Awards. “Together, we are striving for excellence in the housing industry.”

*Further information is available online at www.aico.co.uk