Unilin Insulation named headline sponsor of LRWA Awards 2027

The Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA) has named Unilin as headline sponsor of its 2027 awards, the first time an associate member has taken the role, with the ceremony set for the Titanic Hotel, Liverpool, on 17 March 2027.

The association said the 2027 event will mark 10 years since the awards were launched in 2017. The sold-out 2026 ceremony drew more than 430 guests, according to the LRWA.

Unilin Insulation, part of the Unilin Group, makes PIR and phenolic insulation. The LRWA said its flat roofing range includes insulation boards, thermal ply boards and tapered roof insulation systems for warm roof build-ups, including those waterproofed with liquid-applied membranes.

Leighton Davies, UK Sales and Marketing Director at Unilin Insulation UK Ltd, said: "The LRWA Awards are always a significant date in the diary and it's an absolute privilege to be Headline Sponsor for 2027."

Davies said the association's technical support, through industry guidance, best practice standards and expert knowledge, helps Unilin ensure its products are correctly specified and compatible with liquid waterproofing systems.

A change of sponsor

The 2026 awards, held at the same Liverpool venue on 25 March 2026, were headlined by Polyroof, which described itself as an LRWA member of more than 35 years. The 2027 sponsor comes from the associate membership instead.

Sarah Spink, LRWA Chief Executive Officer, said Unilin's backing as the first associate member in the role shows "the important contribution insulation and other ancillary components make to the performance of liquid roofing systems", as well as the value of bringing together manufacturers from across the roof build-up.

The LRWA said Unilin Insulation has been manufacturing PIR and phenolic insulation for the UK construction industry for 40 years. Unilin Insulation UK's own about page says the company has served the UK construction industry for over 20 years and describes the business as the second largest manufacturer of PIR boards in Europe.

Categories and deadlines

Nominations for Trainer of the Year close on Friday 30 October 2026. Entries for all project categories close on Friday 27 November 2026. The LRWA said project entries are reviewed anonymously by an independent judging panel against detailed criteria.

The five project categories for 2027 are Sustainability Project of the Year, Liquid Waterproofing Project of the Year, Liquid Roofing Project of the Year in a Buried Application, and Liquid Roofing Project of the Year Under and Over 1,000 m².

Three individual awards will also be presented: Trainer of the Year, Student of the Year and Special Contribution to the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Industry.

The sustainability category is the newest. The LRWA introduced it for the 2025 awards, with the first winner announced in Liverpool on 26 March 2025. At the launch, Spink described it as a new category in an emerging area for the industry with potential to evolve.

The 2026 winners

The 2026 awards recognised 24 projects across five categories, according to the LRWA. Sustainability Project of the Year went to 76 Southbank, entered by Lindner Prater Ltd and Radmat Building Products Ltd. Liquid Roofing Project of the Year Over 1000m² was won by Christ's College, Cambridge, entered by Sika Ltd and Emperor Roofing Ltd.

The association

The LRWA traces its roots to 1979 and took its current name in 2010. Its membership brings together manufacturers of liquid applied membranes with their approved contractors and suppliers, and its stated aim is to raise awareness of the technical and financial benefits of specifying liquid applied membranes. It publishes technical guidance through Guidance Notes and a Design Guide for Specifiers.

The 2027 awards are open to LRWA members and their guests, and the association said tickets are now on sale. Spink encouraged guests to book early and members to submit entries ahead of the deadlines. Remaining sponsorship packages are allocated on a first come, first served basis, according to the LRWA's awards page.