Educating and empowering the next generation of ‘urban shapers’.

Young people inherit and are shaped by their neighbourhoods. But they don’t have much of a say in shaping them. We create opportunities for them to learn about the built environment, and how to help shape it. Our two awards schemes are designed to do that by:

  • Demonstrating valuable skills, knowledge and opportunities available

  • Sharing knowledge and resources, encouraging joined-up thinking

  • Promoting the value of youth-led design in the built environment

  • Embedding youth-influenced design in architecture and urban design

  • Making an impact in the design process and inspiring communities involved

  • Inspiring young people to become place-shapers

  • Influencing public policy

Inspire Future Generations Awards.

These bring together a community of practice to recognise and celebrate excellent projects and programme and are now in their fourth year. Last year’s ceremony was hosted by The Building Centre in London, with GLA Deputy Mayor Jules Pipe praising the awards and the entrants’ commitment to empowering the next generation, and encouraging greater diversity in the built environment industry, helping to create a more inclusive city.

Previous awards winners and commendations : 2023 / 2022 / 2021

Creativity into Education - The Creative Thinking Awards

Despite its effect on everyone’s lives, the built environment - architecture, urban design, planning, development, sustainability – it’s not a topic embedded in the school curriculum. Yet as a subject it can make learning more accessible and relevant.

Themes within architecture, urban design and the built environment generally can help teach maths, science, and other curriculum subjects and connect us with our surroundings – through exploration, creativity, critical thinking. Understanding how the built environment is made and managed unlocks huge areas of learning potential. Which is why we have established The Creative Thinking Awards.

These will celebrate teachers and built environment professionals who use the theme of architecture and the built environment within classroom teaching or collaboration. They are the first awards of their kind and will recognise, promote and encourage school-led learning programme that explore architecture and the built environment.

The call for 2025 Awards submissions will be launched early 2025. The pilot Architecture into Education Awards 2023 winners, supported by Twelve Healers Trust, can be viewed here 2023 .