Hunt is on for best North East construction firms

Entries for the tenth Constructing Excellence in the North East awards, celebrating the regional construction industry and its achievements, are set to close on Friday February 21.

The awards, seen as one of the highlights of the construction calendar in our region, will be held on Friday May 9, 2014 at the Newcastle Marriott Gosforth Park Hotel.

There are 12 categories for individuals or companies to enter which include awards for integration and collaborative working, leadership and people development, sustainability, SMEs, innovation, value, health and safety, heritage as well as young achiever, achiever, client and project of the year.

The winner of each category will go on to compete in the National Constructing Excellence Awards, held in London in the Autumn.

Last year’s SME award winner, McNally & Thompson, were praised for how they articulate what they want to achieve. Judges were impressed with how, when the company exceeds their KPI targets they ramp it up as a stretch target demonstrating strive for continuous improvement.

The company impressed the judges so much that they also won at the national Constructing Excellence awards at the end of last year.

McNally & Thompson director, Fred Hood, said: “We always strive to be better, we invest heavily in training and our mission is to be our clients’ first choice electrical solution.

“Our staff are very proud of what we have achieved and winning reinforces their own belief in what we do- it really sets us apart from others and helps promote our business to a wider audience. As this year’s sponsors of the SME award, I would encourage anyone who feels they have something special within their business to take the time and enter the CENE awards, being shortlisted or even winning is like “a shot in the arm” of both energy and encouragement.”

Last year saw Constructing Excellence in the North East celebrate ten years as the North East’s regional partner to the national body Constructing Excellence. In that time, the organisation has seen the importance of construction in local areas increase dramatically, they have witnessed the damaging effects of the 2008 recession and they’re at the forefront of the economic recovery process.

Catriona Lingwood, chief executive of Constructing Excellence in the North East, said: “The past few years have been difficult for our industry but as things begin to improve, it is vital that we recognise those at the changing face of our industry.”

Ian Storer, director of Corepeople Recruitment, headline sponsor of the awards for the fourth year running, said: “These awards have built up a reputation as one of the must-attend events in the North East construction sector. It is a great opportunity to celebrate what is great about the industry.”

Entries for the awards close at 5.00pm on Friday February 21. To find out more about the categories, or to download an application form, visit http://www.cene.org.uk/awards/.