Solely two folks from the development {industry} have been recognised in 2024’s New 12 months Honours Record.
Graham Paterson, the previous chief govt of Metropolis Constructing, certainly one of Scotland’s largest development firms, obtained an OBE for providers to equality and inclusion in development.
Ruth Devine, managing director of contractor SJD Associates, obtained an MBE for providers to additional schooling and apprenticeships for her work with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Schooling (IfATE).
Final 12 months, 5 construction-industry leaders obtained honours, including Robertson Group founder Bill Robertson and Hill Group founder Andy Hill.
Metropolis Constructing was established as an arm’s-length firm by Glasgow Metropolis Council in 2006. The corporate is break up into two divisions, certainly one of which is a 50/50 three way partnership with developer Wheatley Houses.
The corporate has round 2,000 employees and, together with constructing work, operates Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBI), which manufactures merchandise for buildings. Greater than 50 per cent of RSBI’s 250 workers have disabilities.
Paterson was an govt director at Metropolis Constructing for 9 years, retiring in March 2021. He obtained a remuneration package deal of £612,000 upon his retirement, making him one of many highest-paid council workers of that 12 months, in response to marketing campaign group TaxPayers’ Alliance.
Devine was instrumental in growing the Set up and Upkeep Electrician apprenticeship, which launched in 2015. Via her work with IfATE, she has contributed to updating 90 apprenticeships, three T Ranges and 20 Larger Technical {Qualifications}.
She additionally chairs the Electrotechnical Expertise Partnership and the Electrical Contractors’ Affiliation’s Expertise Committee, and is a part of the Constructing Security Regulator’s Industry Competence Committee, the Development Management Council’s folks and abilities community, and the federal government’s Development Expertise Supply Group.
She stated: “It’s an unimaginable privilege to have been awarded an MBE and I’m so happy to have been in a position to help the reform and enchancment of apprenticeships, T Ranges and Larger Technical {Qualifications}.
“It’s because of 1000’s of huge and small companies, like SJD, that requirements have risen and abilities coaching now higher matches employers’ wants.”
Development Trade Council chief govt Graham Watts commented on LinkedIn that the “disappointing” New 12 months Honours Record contained fewer builders than in previous years.
“Nicely, I can actually say that in 40 years of monitoring two Honours Lists a 12 months I’ve NEVER seen such a poor listing for development,” he stated.
“I’m positive some will say that it’s deserved because of the {industry}’s rock-bottom, post-Grenfell repute on constructing security and different points however there are loads of excellent folks in our design and development sectors and for the entire of a significant UK {industry} to be so comprehensively ignored is disappointing. Should do higher!”
Elsewhere within the constructed setting sector, architect Patty Hopkins obtained an OBE for providers to structure and Audley English, co-founder of the Society of Black Architects, obtained an MBE for providers to structure and sustainability.
Neil O’Connor, director of the Constructing Security Programme on the Division for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, who had already been awarded a CBE, was made a Companion of the Order of the Tub – a particular honour for navy and civil servant personnel – for providers to Constructing Security.
Engineering was well-represented on the listing. Royal Academy of Engineering president James McDonald obtained a knighthood for providers to engineering, schooling and vitality.
Catriona Schmolke, former international vice chairman of Jacobs, was awarded a CBE for providers to engineering, and Lindhurst Engineering’s former chief govt Martin Rigley obtained an OBE for providers to the East Midlands Covid response and to the neighborhood in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
Nicholas Boys Smith, founding father of Create Streets and chair of the federal government’s recently-founded Workplace for Place, was additionally awarded an OBE for providers to planning and design.
