Winners step up for CN Specialists Awards 2023

The winners of this year’s Construction News Specialists Awards were revealed tonight in a gala ceremony at the Hilton Metropole, London.

Specialists were recognised across 21 categories at the event, which was attended by about 600 people and hosted by ex-England rugby international Ugo Monye.

AR, The Enabling Partner picked up the Demolition Specialist of the Year award for the second consecutive year, while modular construction firm Merit picked up two trophies: Offsite Specialist of the Year and Project of the Year by a Specialist Contractor (subcontract over £5m).

CN Specialists Awards 2023: the winners

Apprentice of the Year: Conor Dallas, Mivan
Training Excellence: GGR Group
Excellence in Social Value: CASS Supplies
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Excellence: John F Hunt Group
Net Zero Trailblazer Award: Gallagher Group
Digital Construction Excellence: Richter Associates
Innovation of the Year (Contractor): Safety Shield Global
Technology Innovation of the Year (Non-contractor): Spillard, Flannery Plant Hire and Morgan Sindall Infrastructure
Ground Engineering Specialist of the Year: Roger Bullivant
MEP Specialist of the Year: Briggs & Forrester Group
Offsite Specialist of the Year: Merit
Demolition Specialist of the Year: AR, The Enabling Partner
Equipment Specialist of the Year: Sunbelt Rentals
Product Innovation of the Year (Non-contractor): Boss Cabins
Access & Scaffolding Specialist of the Year: GKR Scaffolding
Project of the Year by a Specialist Contractor (subcontract up to £2m): Mainmark
Project of the Year by a Specialist Contractor (subcontract from £2m to £5m): Custom Solar, a Mitie Company
Project of the Year by a Specialist Contractor (subcontract over £5m): Merit
Specialist Contractor of the Year (turnover up to £25m): Metek
Specialist Contractor of the Year (turnover over £25m): Reds10
Outstanding Contribution to Specialist Construction: GIND UK

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While some industry bodies argue that payment practices are improving, several contractors admit they still pay more than 20 per cent of invoices late – and parliamentarians are among those concerned that subcontractors are still suffering from missing or late payments.

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The five-minute survey also asks subcontractors about their views on project bank accounts – under which a supply chain is paid directly by an ultimate client – as well as on whether retentions will be phased out by 2025, the date favoured by Build UK and the Construction Leadership Council.

Answers to the survey will be used by CN to inform forthcoming in-depth coverage of payment practices in industry.