The awards, now in their fifth year, are the biggest event in the industry, and the ceremony was easily the largest event in National Construction Week.
The awards are designed to honour those companies whose businesses have developed most successfully over the past year.
For the first time, there was an award for best practice in construction, sponsored by the DETR’s Construction Best Practice Programme. The award was presented by construction minister Nick Raynsford to developer Argent, which also won the Construction client of the year award. In a brief address, Raynsford said the award – for which all 64 finalists were eligible – went to Argent for demonstrating most commitment to innovation, research and development, environmental issues, safety and improving its supply-chain management.
The awards were compered by Michael Buerk, the BBC newsreader and journalist. After the ceremony, many of the guests took part in a charity casino. Sponsored by architect Foster and Partners, it raised nearly £7000 for CRASH, the construction industry’s charity for homeless people.
A full list of the winners, judges’ comments and profiles of some of the victors was published in a special Building Awards supplement, free with last week’s issue.
