As excitement mounts for next week’s first ever Building the Future Awards, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has hailed industry leaders for backing the scheme to celebrate young construction talent – after tickets sold out.
Mr Street, who will give a keynote speech at the sold-out Black-Tie event at Villa Park on Friday, 17th November, said that the event will shine a light on opportunities for young people in a vital sector for the region’s economy.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said:
“I’m really looking forward to the first Building the Future awards – this new set of awards really concentrates on young people and their success and opportunities in the construction industry.
“In a sense these awards have been overdue, because this is such an important sector to our region – so it’s great that we’ve now got the opportunity to celebrate outstanding achievement.
“If you stand back from what’s going on in the West Midlands economy at the moment, construction is one of the most important sectors. Just literally look at the skyline of our towns and cities to see how it’s changing. The really exciting thing is that change leads to jobs and opportunities for so many young people.
“These awards really highlight to everybody the careers that are on offer, and the opportunities for young people to really fulfil their dreams in this sector.”
From promising apprentices to talented young engineers, and from dedicated educators to innovative entrepreneurs, the shortlists for the first-ever Building the Future Awards reveal how companies across the region’s construction sector are developing exceptional individuals under the age of 35.
Organised by Erol Lawson and Zoer Bannett, the Building the Future Awards 2023 take place on Friday, 17th November, in Aston Villa’s Holte Suite, and will be hosted by media personality Ed James.
Companies represented on the shortlists include HS2 Ltd, Lovell Partnership, M & J Evans Construction and Barratt Homes. Categories range from Young Apprentice of the Year to Role Model of the Year.
The Building the Future Awards 2023 is headline sponsored by Birmingham City Council and South and City College Birmingham. Sponsors also include Qatar Airways, Bootcamp Media and leading construction company Careys. Others backing the inaugural awards include the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the West Midlands Combined Authority, HS2, CECA, UCB and The Home Group.
Andy Street added:
“The organisers of the event, Errol and Zoe, asked me to make sure it was in my diary, and I’m really looking forward to coming along to celebrate young talent.
“It is fantastic to see this first-ever awards night sold out, which illustrates just how the construction industry has backed the event. It will be a great night.”
Joint organiser Errol Lawson, of Emerge Leadership UK CIC, said:
“Excitement is really building now as the final preparations for the first-ever Building the Future Awards are put in place, with a remarkable roll-call of young talent on the shortlists, from all across the construction sector – from major house builders to innovative start-ups.”
Fellow organiser Zoe Bennett added:
“We would like to thanks West Midlands Mayor Andy Street for throwing his support behind this new event – right from the start, he has recognised the importance of celebrating the next generation of talent in the construction industry.
“The fantastic response support given to the awards illustrates the appetite there is to recognise how strong construction is in the West Midlands right now.
“Acknowledging the achievements of young professionals in the industry serves as an inspiration for aspiring individuals who are considering a career in this field. “
Picture: Finalist Khumehra Mohammed
To visit the Building the Future Awards website, click here: https://buildingthefutureawards.co.uk/
