Ministry of Defence Sanctuary Awards

Overview

The Sanctuary Awards have been recognising outstanding conservation and sustainability efforts across the MOD estate since 1991.

The Awards celebrate and encourage group and individual efforts that benefit sustainable development, environmental and heritage conservation, utilities and resource saving measures, sustainable construction and procurement or community awareness on land or property that the MOD owns or uses in the UK and overseas.

Sanctuary magazine celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, so we are pausing delivery of the Sanctuary programme to develop content for this special edition.

The 34th Sanctuary Awards nomination process will launch in Autumn 2024, and if you wish to be added to the calling notice, please email dio-sanctuary@mod.gov.uk

Award34th Sanctuary Awards 2024 Categories

EntriesWhen werenominations open, entries will be sought for the following categories:

• Environmental Enhancement Award - projects focused on wildlife and biodiversity, environmental research, or tackling pollution and contamination issues.

• Heritage Award - projects focused on archaeology, historic buildings, historic parks and gardens, historic landscape preservation, museum collections, heritage education and public engagement.

• SocialNet ValueZero and Resource Efficiency Award - projects focusedthat oncontribute anyto of the socialMOD’s aspectsNet ofZero sustainability,Carbon includingambition, heritage,reduce publicenergy, access,water communityor engagementresource andconsumption, education.renewable energy or recycling.

• NetIndividual ZeroAchievement and Resource Efficiency Award - projectsfor thatthose contributewho have made a significant personal contribution to theMOD sustainability or conservation as a volunteer, MOD’s Netemployee Zeroor Carboncontractor.

• Climate ambition,Change reduceResilience energy,Award water- projects or resourceactivities consumption,focused renewableon energytaking action to enhance climate resilience through mitigation or recycling.adaption.

• Sustainable ProcurementDelivery and Construction Award - projects that deliver against a MOD priority area, objective or commitment to improve or innovate sustainability e.g. of equipment or services, management of supply chains or product life cyclescycles, digitalisation, or new build construction and refurbishment projects that innovate in fields such as new materials or design.projects.

• IndividualEarly AchievementCareer Award - for thoseindividuals in the first 5 years of their sustainability or conservation career, who have made a significant personal contribution to MOD sustainability or conservation as a volunteer, MOD employee or contractor.conservation.

Winners from the above categories were further considered for one of the following:

• Silver Otter Trophy: awarded to the best Establishment, Conservation Group or community-led project or individual conservation effort on the MOD estate.

• Sustainable Business Award: awarded to the best larger scale or commercial project which delivers sustainable solutions to enable the Armed Forces to live, work or train.

ShortlistedPlaced nominations will be put forward for the:

• Innovation Award: judged by the Defence Innovation Unit, this is awarded to those who have exemplified innovative behaviours by championing the adoption of new ideas, innovative ways of working and continuous improvement. This might include taking appropriate risk and early termination of work where relevant.

Sanctuary Award Judging

• Nominees are MOD personnel, conservation groups, industry partners or other MOD stakeholders.
• Entries relate to MOD land, property, activities or equipment, either in the UK or overseas.

The judging panel used an online portal to review all the long-listed nominations, including a range of unique projects from across defence. Each judge allocated a maximum of 30 points to each nomination, before the panel met in person to reach a group consensus on the winners and runners up.

The panel also decided which of the category winners would be taking home our very special Silver Otter Trophy, and the coveted Sustainable Business Award.

Related content

• Sanctuary magazine
• Sustainability and Climate Change: MOD