Purpose:
To recognise washroom suppliers who consistently deliver outstanding products, innovation, and service — as judged by their customers.
This award celebrates washroom service suppliers who not only provide quality consumables and equipment but also actively help to create clean, safe, sustainable and customer-focused washroom environments across all sectors.

What We’re Looking For:

1️⃣ Product Quality & Reliability

• Consistently high-quality, durable, and effective products.
• Reliability of supply and delivery.
• Range and suitability of products for different washroom needs.

2️⃣ Exceptional Customer Service & Support

• Responsiveness and communication.
• Willingness to go the extra mile to meet client needs.
• Efficient problem-solving and after-sales care.
• Long-term partnership approach with customers.

3️⃣ Innovation in Washroom Solutions

• Introduction of new technologies, materials, or systems that improve user experience or hygiene.
• Smart or sustainable product design (e.g. reducing water, energy, or waste).
• Flexible solutions tailored to customer challenges.

4️⃣ Contribution to Hygiene & Sustainability

• Active promotion of best hygiene practices.
• Use of eco-friendly or responsibly sourced products.
• Demonstrated efforts to reduce carbon footprint or improve circularity in packaging and product life cycle.

5️⃣ Customer Impact

• Genuine customer feedback and testimonials that showcase satisfaction and trust.
• Evidence of positive impact on customer operations or washroom standards.
• Strong reputation within the industry for reliability, partnership, and excellence.

Judging Approach:

• Shortlisted based on customer scorings
• Each nomination to include specific examples of how the supplier has excelled.

Nominate your supplier today: https://forms.gle/YUcvNgfvhPVA5RFQA

 Additional Criteria

The following criteria apply only to entries submitted for the Hygiene Inclusive Award.

They are in addition to the standard Loo of the Year Awards assessment and are designed to recognise facilities that demonstrate exceptional consideration for accessibility, usability, sensory needs, and inclusive hygiene practices.

🚹 Male Facilities – Additional Inclusive Criteria

Facilities should demonstrate enhanced accessibility and usability by meeting the following:

Toilet paper can be dispensed single‑handedly.

Flushing mechanisms are easy to operate for users with limited hand strength (e.g., sensor, lever, plate).

Taps are easy‑use designs, such as lever or sensor‑activated.

Soap provided is fragrance‑free or suitable for sensitive skin, and positioned within easy reach.

Paper hand towels are available in a touchless dispenser, with consideration for noise sensitivity where air dryers are used.

Mirrors include options that offer additional privacy.

🚺 Female Facilities – Additional Inclusive Criteria

To support inclusive hygiene needs, facilities should also demonstrate:

Toilet paper can be dispensed single‑handedly.

Flushing mechanisms are easy to use for those with limited hand strength.

Taps are lever or sensor‑operated for ease of use.

Soap is fragrance‑free/sensitive‑skin friendly and easy to reach.

Paper towels are available in a touchless dispenser, with noise‑sensitivity signage where air dryers are present.

Mirrors include options that provide greater privacy.

♿ Accessible Facilities – Additional Inclusive Criteria

Toilet paper can be dispensed single‑handedly, supporting users with limited dexterity.

👶 Baby Change / Family Room – Additional Inclusive Criteria

Toilet paper can be dispensed single‑handedly, ensuring ease of use for parents and carers managing children, should there be a toilet.

📝 Additional Inclusive Design Considerations

Entrants should also demonstrate attention to inclusive design through:

Colour contrast between dispensers and wall surfaces to support low‑vision users.

Accessible placement of dispensers (e.g., hand towel height, soap reach).

Hand sanitiser positioned near washroom exits.

Dispensers designed to be easy to clean.

Recognition that not all disabilities are visible, reflected in signage or messaging.

 A clear reporting process for cleanliness issues or empty dispensers

Educational establishments that enter Loo of the Year Awards know how important it is to provide toilets that meet the needs of their pupils. These should be clean and well maintained, and available to use at all times. 

Poor toilets have a negative impact on pupils and students, who may then avoid using the toilets because they are dirty, smelly, lack basic provisions or are not private enough. There are medical conditions that can be caused or exacerbated by the avoidance of, or limited access to, school toilets.

The provision of access to high quality toilet facilities is a key factor in education. It can have a positive influence on pupils’ willingness and ability to learn, their behaviour, morale, health and well being and can impact on attendance.

In 2010 Loo of the Year Awards introduced the Toilets in Education Awards to provide an independent assessment of the toilets used by pupils and students from early years, primary schools, play centres, secondary schools and higher and adult education. Educational establishments that cater for all children and adults with differing needs are also recognised in the Education sector of our awards.

In 2015 a new Hygiene Room Award was introduced to assess the standard of Hygiene Rooms within educational establishments; which must meet the minimum standards of Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 and may exceed this in order to meet local needs and achieve good practice standards. This award is open for all education establishments in the UK and Ireland.

Access to well-designed and attractive toilets which suit the needs of all types of users of educational establishments should be a right and demonstrate respect for our younger generation. All entries receive an unannounced inspection visit from an experienced inspector and receive an Awards grading judged against our criteria.

Loo of the Year Awards are the British Standard for all types of Away from home toilets and provide recognition and awards for the best. 

Please see the Judging Criteria page to raise you awareness of the requirements for your establishment, to help you with your entry should you wish to join us. 

Spring 2024-We are please to announce that Herefordshire Early Years Improvement Team are working in partnership with Loo of The year Awards to raise the awareness of the importance of high standards of hygiene, facilities and safety within the early years settings. 

The Loo of the Year Awards inspection criteria have been developed over many years and are constantly under review. There are currently over one hundred different criteria used for assessing male, female, accessible and babychange facilities and they are summarised below:-

Recognises the most environmentally friendly toilets from all entry categories.

Entry

Entrants that indicate (tick) that they want their toilets to be considered for this award as part of their Entry Form submission will be sent a Declaration Form for them to submit details of their environmentally friendly features. They may enter some or all of the toilets included in their overall entry.

Award Criteria

Facilities must meet some eco friendly criteria. In addition to the existing Male/Female/Accessible/Baby Change criteria, judging will be based on criteria that include:

Energy

The energy section assesses a range of energy efficiency measures as well as the use of renewable technologies, for example:

• Low energy lighting and controls, e.g. automatic lighting – only provided when toilets are in use maximum use of natural daylight
• 
Efficient heating, cooling and hot water systems
• Energy efficient hand dryers
• Insulation and energy efficient ventilation
• Low embodied energy building
• Renewable energy, e.g. solar panels, wind turbines etc

Water

Examples of the water assessment criteria include:

• Water efficient taps, e.g. light sensor or pressure taps
• Water saving Cisterns
• Water saving urinals
• Harvesting rainwater and/or use of grey water

Eco Friendly Products

Examples of Eco friendly products include:

• Re-cycled toilet tissue/ Paper towels
• Eco Friendly Cleaning Products

The facility must be a minimum 12m² floor space (shower toilet preferred)
Height floor to top of WC:
Nursery and Infant  = 300-350mm
Older primary & secondary  = 396mm

The Changing Places Consortium appreciates that meeting the 12 square metres (3m x 4m) size criteria of the British Standard may be difficult in, for example, a listed building that cannot be altered. Toilets may continue to be identified as Changing Places toilets where the minimum room dimensions are 7 square metres or above.