Russell WBHO has been named Contractor of the Year 2020 at the Constructing Excellence North West Regional Construction Awards.
Held online for the first time in the event’s 13 years, winners were announced by video message rather than the usual glittering event at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool.
The panel of judges was headed by Professor Peter McDermott, North West Board Member of the National Constructing Excellence forum and professor at the University of Salford, and the awards are considered one of the toughest in the industry.
The win will see Russell WBHO and the Axis Tower project go through to the national finals in their respective categories.
The Contractor of the Year category was sponsored by leading regional property news website Place North West.
Six major regional contractors were also shortlisted, including Crossfield Group, Galliford Try, Interserve Construction Limited, Krol Corlett Construction Limited and Warden Construction.
Director Kirsty Butcher revealed Russell WBHO as the winner, along with Crossfield and Warden as highly commended.
She said: “In a highly contested category, the judges were very impressed with all of the submissions and, after a strong debate, went for a winner but also two highly commended awards.
“The judges were looking for a construction contractor that’s shown clear consistent leadership and commitment to core constructing excellent principles across their portfolio of activities in 2020. This organisation has continued to thrive and grow during the Covid pandemic, and consider their staff to be their greatest asset.”
Gareth Russell, joint managing director of Russell WBHO, said the double win was something for the who team to celebrate: “To be named Contractor of the Year by Constructing Excellence is an incredible achievement. It’s not only testament to the skill and talents of the amazing team of people we have in this company, but is also an acknowledgement that we do things right the right way.
“Our team is professional, conscientious, and committed to quality, exceeding the standards that we set for them. The criteria in the NWRCA are some of the toughest in the industry, so to be named Contractor of the Year for 2020 and is a genuine honour.
“To pick up a second award, the Innovation Award for Axis Tower, is outstanding. The team which delivered this highly complex 28-storey building from a tiny 761 sq m footplate on the banks of a canal in Central Manchester, deserve all the plaudits that they can get.
“Congratulations must also go to our colleagues at WSP and Jon Matthews Architects, and our client Property Alliance Group for this win which acknowledges the project’s success comes down to the expertise and collaboration of the team appointed to deliver it.”
