Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Construction Awards of Excellence.
Building contractor of the year: Scotland
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(Sponsored by Scottish Building Federation)
- Winner: Stephen Gardiner Construction
Stephen Gardiner Construction builds predominantly bespoke houses for families building their own homes, and they cite client involvement, honesty and professionalism as key factors in this successful process – and this is backed up by glowing client and architect testimonials. The judges were particularly impressed with the quality of the construction and the firm’s local investment.
Building contractor of the year: Wales
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(Sponsored by NFB cymru)
- Winner: Kingfisher Developments
Kingfisher focuses on building long and transparent relationships with its housing association clients and the judges say they were impressed with Kingfisher’s broad range of projects, as well as their direct employment of site staff. Their clients appreciate their trustworthiness, high quality service and willingness to embrace innovations around sustainability.
Building contractor of the year: England - turnover under £15m
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(Sponsored by South West Builders Federation)
- Winner: Interclass
The judges were particularly impressed with Interclass’s wide range of projects, how they invest in the business, the way they manage their employees, and the very positive feedback they receive from supply chain and customers alike.
Building contractor of the year: England - turnover over £15m
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(Sponsored by NFB Major Contractors Group)
- Winner: Baxall
The judges enjoyed the fact that here was a company not just talking about diversity but delivering on it; the judges called it a regional firm with national aspirations, working with a good business model, a clear focus on health & safety and net zero; and maintaining excellent practice during a difficult period for the industry.
- Highly Commended: Henry Boot Construction
- Highly Commended: Erith Contractors
UK house builder of the year - under 35 units/yr
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(Sponsored by Travis Perkins)
- Winner: Kingfisher Developments
Kingfisher Developments delivered: Wales’ first carbon positive home in the past 12 months, prefabricated homes for homeless people in Cardiff city centre, and affordable homes for United Welsh Housing, who used tenants to build the timber frames. Judges praised the quality of the work and client relationships.
UK house builder of the year - over 35 units/yr
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(Sponsored by The Bletchley Group)
- Winner: Skipton Properties
The judges said that in a very strong category, Skipton delivered outstanding projects of high quality with an acute awareness of both environmental and social factors – and also built on difficult sites which other developers wouldn’t have wanted to touch.
Training initiative of the year
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(Sponsored by City & Guilds)
- Winner: Baxall
Baxall’s commitment to training is exemplary and multi-faceted, and is a key part of their development and retention of high quality staff, both in management and on the tools. The judges commented that the company is punching well above its weight when it comes to training.
- Highly Commended: Pearce Construction
Young employee of the year
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(Sponsored by Women in Construction)
- Winner: Sarah Stockley, Erith Contractors
The judges said Sarah was nothing short of a trailblazer in the construction industry, particularly in the demolition sector. Apart from all the usual challenges of an apprenticeship, Sarah also had to conquer a fear of heights! Sarah says she’s has had the best experience – and the judges say she is a role model for young women everywhere.
- Highly Commended: Bradley Longford, Henry Boot Construction
- Highly Commended: Laura Smith, Interclass
Environmental and Community initiative of the year
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(Sponsored by Brick Development Association)
- Winner: Robert Woodhead Ltd
While the judges enjoyed the innovations in all the entries in this very closely-fought category, they were ultimately persuaded by Robert Woodhead’s clear strategy, exemplary execution and exceptionally good practice, as well as their ambition to be climate positive with zero single use plastic on site by the end of 2029 – a realistic ambition that has been clearly mapped out.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing initiative of the year
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(Sponsored by B&CE)
- Winner: Countryside Properties
Last year, Countryside rolled out artificial intelligence collision and avoidance proximity camera technology across all construction and factory sites. They fitted all their forklift telehandlers on construction sites and factories with cameras that can distinguish and detect a human shape and trigger alarms and warnings whenever the proximity limit is breached. The judges said that if Countryside’s technology continues to prove successful, it ought to be on every building site in the country as soon as possible.
Heritage building project of the year
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(Sponsored by Crosby Associates Media)
- Winner: Erith Contractors
In a category full of outstanding projects, the judges congratulate Erith for their outstanding renovation of the iconic Whiteleys building, the historic site of London’s first department store. It was a huge and highly technical project that required meticulous attention to detail, outstanding skill and training, and was delivered on time with zero reportable incidents or accidents and zero waste.
- Highly Commended: Scott & Brown
Lifetime achievement award
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(Sponsored by NOCN)
- Winner: Simon Carr, Henry Boot Construction
Simon has worked in the construction industry for over 40 years, both in the U.K. and abroad, and has become a prominent national business leader. His position in the construction sector has enabled him to shape the direction of the industry and he has been highly politically engaged for many years. In 2020, he was awarded a CBE for services to the construction industry and charities.
Our judges called him a leader both for his company and for the industry, who can point to a lifetime of advocacy for our sector. The company he has worked for for the last 33 years, until recently as Managing Director and currently as Vice-Chair, is one of the best in the country in the way they do business, say the judges.