Everybody loves a good client, and this awards category has revealed some of the very best – but this year the Olympic Delivery Authority has gone above and beyond

Construction client of the year

Olympic Delivery Authority

The east London skyline has been transformed by the Olympic venues over the past year, as the efforts of the Olympic Delivery Authority and its supply chain come to fruition. Despite the pressures of managing the UK’s largest construction programme throughout a lengthy downturn, the ODA has acted as an exemplary client to keep the project on track. The client has acted swiftly to mitigate the risk and impact of insolvencies throughout its large supply chain, and now has 80% of
construction work on the site complete. The first venue to be finished, the velodrome, was built to time and budget, and as the programme enters its final phases, many more look set to follow.

Legal and General

Despite working on extremely important projects, Legal and General rarely puts itself in the public eye. The Central St Giles project is a rare example where L&G have shown outwardly what it does and the world class quality of the project characterises this client.

Ministry of Justice

The ministry has managed a politically sensitive, 9,000 place prison expansion programme to time and budget. Extending the contractor framework from five years to 10 achieved economies of scale and gave supply chains the confidence to invest in innovations.

Olympic Delivery Authority

Despite the pressures of managing the UK’s largest construction programme throughout a downturn, the ODA has acted as an exemplary client to keep the project on track, acting swiftly to mitigate the risk and impact of insolvencies throughout its large supply chain.

Peel Holdings

The past year has been a momentous one for the £500m MediaCityUK, Peel Holdings’ highest profile project. Much success can be attributed to the close relationship forged with contractor Bovis Lend Lease. The result is a stunning development.

Royal Shakespeare Company

The RSC has upstaged many more established construction clients with its £112.8 transformation of its Stratford-upon-Avon home. On the project, the client held regular “builders’ nights” for workers to see a current production and have drinks with the cast.

Transport for London

Transport for London has deservedly won plaudits for its £1bn revitalisation of the East London line, delivered two months early despite a tight three-and-a-half year timetable. Add to that its Crossrail work, and TfL is becoming the capital’s most important client.