Pensdown shortlisted for three ECN Awards for 2026

Pensdown has been shortlisted in three categories at the ECN Awards 2026, marking a significant achievement for the electrical contractor and clear recognition of its work across specialist lighting installations, sustainable technology and electrical contracting.

The company is a finalist for Lighting Project of the Year, Sustainable Project of the Year and Contractor of the Year (turnover under £5 million). The nominations highlight Pensdown’s ability to combine technical expertise and practical engineering with a commitment to energy efficiency, sustainability and high standards of project delivery.

The ECN Awards celebrate achievement across the electrical contracting industry, with finalists selected following consideration by an independent panel of judges. The 2026 awards ceremony will take place on 3^rd December at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre in Coventry.

Being shortlisted in three categories reflects the breadth of Pensdown’s work and its approach to delivering projects that respond to increasingly demanding technical and environmental requirements.

The company’s entry for Contractor of the Year highlights its position as a family-run business delivering complex projects through a close-knit team, combining specialist knowledge with a flexible, hands-on approach. Its capabilities span electrical installation, renewable energy, battery storage, lighting, audio-visual systems and structured cabling, allowing clients to work with one contractor across multiple building technologies.

The shortlist also recognises Pensdown’s contribution to improving the performance of existing buildings through lighting upgrades and the integration of renewable energy systems.

Lighting project demonstrates the value of intelligent design

Pensdown’s nomination for Lighting Project of the Year, particularly recognises its work on a major LED lighting retrofit in Edinburgh. The project incorporated bespoke Zumtobel LED luminaires alongside Helvar intelligent lighting controls, helping to optimise lighting performance and energy use.

The installation demonstrates the importance of looking beyond the replacement of conventional fittings. By combining carefully selected luminaires with intelligent controls, lighting upgrades can help organisations improve the performance of their buildings while supporting wider energy-efficiency objectives.

For Pensdown, the project forms part of a broader approach to electrical engineering that considers how technology can deliver practical benefits for building owners and operators.

Sustainable technology in action

The Sustainable Project of the Year nomination also highlights Pensdown’s work integrating renewable energy generation and battery storage into an operational commercial facility.

The project involved a 765kW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installation, comprising 1,512 solar panels, alongside a 0.5MW battery storage system. Delivering the installation required careful coordination to ensure work could proceed safely while the distribution facility remained operational.

The scale of the rooftop installation presented significant engineering and logistical challenges. With thousands of mounting brackets requiring precise positioning, Pensdown designed and fabricated a bespoke timber template to support accurate installation. The company also developed a freestanding, modular steel-framed structure to accommodate the PV infrastructure where available wall space was limited.

The subsequent battery storage installation involved additional electrical and civil engineering works, including a concrete base, a GRP enclosure, distribution switchgear and protective barriers.

The project illustrates the technical coordination required to integrate renewable energy generation and storage into existing buildings, particularly where operational continuity and safety are essential.

Celebrating the Pensdown team

The Contractor of the Year shortlist recognises the people and capabilities behind Pensdown’s project work. The company’s approach combines electrical engineering expertise with in-house problem-solving, close client relationships and a focus on delivering work safely and to the required standard.

On the rooftop solar project, for example, the team maintained a structured approach to working at height, including protected access, skylight protection, regular reviews of risk assessments and method statements and quality checks throughout the installation. The project was completed without reported incidents.

Alongside its technical capabilities, Pensdown’s wider approach includes the reuse of existing infrastructure where appropriate and the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment. These practices complement its work helping clients adopt more energy-efficient technologies.

Being named a finalist in three ECN Awards categories is an important milestone for the business and an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of the entire team. The winners will be announced at the ECN Awards ceremony on 3^rd December, but whatever the outcome, Pensdown’s three finalist places provide welcome recognition of the expertise, innovation and commitment it brings to its projects.

For more information visit: www.pensdown.co.uk