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NCE/ACE Consultants of the Year Awards celebrates emerging and established talent

The shortlisted contenders for the year’s best individual and corporate performances across engineering consultancy have been revealed ahead of the annual NCE/ACE Consultants Awards lunch later this month.

NCEACE awards

The contenders include both established players in the market but also some of the newest emerging talent that is now breaking through on the back of the rising market.

Also recognised are the future stars of the profession in the Young Consultant category. This year’s shortlisted talent once again impressed judges with their experience and expertise around a range of skills from project management to research to structural engineering expertise.

Alongside the business achievements to be rewarded once again this year, the awards also feature a new category to celebrate the sustainability successes of the profession.

The winners will all be announced at a special invitation-only awards lunch at Claridges in London on 21 March. 

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The shortlist

Young consultant of the year sponsored by Hays

This award is for people in the initial stages of their consultancy careers, and is intended to identify and celebrate the future ambassadors of the infrastructure industry.

The shortlist is:

• Natasha Watson, Buro Happold
• Sarah McKendrick, Jacobs
• George Kapos, High-Point Rendel
• Gavin White, Ramboll

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Outstanding achievement

This award recognises individuals, groups or teams that are the ambassadors for the profession and exemplify the contribution the infrastructure industry makes to our society, environment and quality of life. The winner will have contributed to the standing and reputation of consultancy and engineering at home or overseas.

The shortlist is:

• Aecom: 2013 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion team
• JBA Consulting: Scour enhance spend design team
• Rhead Group: Emissions reduction team at St Fergus, Kirremuir and Hatton compressor stations

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Sustainability champion – sponsored by Lafarge Tarmac

This new award has been developed to celebrate individuals, groups or teams that are champions for sustainability in the consultancy profession, either through a specific project or by their ongoing commitment to raising awareness of sustainability as an issue. The winner will be inspirational in their approach to sustainability, providing genuine leadership.

The shortlist is:

• Christina Jackson, Amey
• Mei Ren, Buro Happold
• Andrew Kinsey, Mace
• Carbon team, Mott MacDonald
• Parsons Brinckerhoff
• Andrea Charlson, Arup

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Global consultant of the year

This category is for £1bn-plus turnover companies that have a genuinely global consultancy business, operating in territories throughout the world. They can be owned and based anywhere in the world, but must have a presence in the UK. These giants of the sector are recognised for their expertise in every continent.

The shortlist: 

• URS
• Aecom
• Atkins
• Mott MacDonald
• WSP
• Parsons Brinckerhoff

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UK major consultant of the year – sponsored by Mabey

The consultants in this category have a total staff of over 2,500, and are UK-owned. However, their main area of operation can be either within or outside the UK. They are all well established firms with a wealth of experience both in the UK and overseas.

The shortlist is:

• Hyder
• Arup
• Atkins
• Mott MacDonald
• Parsons Brinckerhoff

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Consultant of the year with between 250 and 2,500 employees

Firms with a presence in the UK, but can be operating anywhere in the world. Many of these companies have long been at the forefront of UK consulting expertise.

The shortlist is:

• Buro Happold
• SLR Consulting
• Peter Brett Associates
• Tony Gee & Partners

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Consultant of the year with fewer than 250 employees

This category recognises the work of the many successful consultants that fit into the business world’s definition of a small to medium-sized enterprise. 

The shortlist is:

• BWB
• Flint & Neill
• Davies Maguire + Whitby
• BCS Design

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Specialist consultant of the year

This award is for companies that have developed a reputation for a specific specialism within the infrastructure consultancy sector.

The shortlist is:

• Matthew Consultants (part of the Walsh Group)
• GGP Consult
• Ardent
• i-Transport
• Phil Jones Associates

 

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Judges

The judges for the global, UK major, consultant of the year with between 250 and 2,500 employees, consultant of the year with fewer than 250 employees, sustainability champion and specialist consultant of the year awards are:

Mark Hansford, interim editor, NCE

Geoff French, President, ICE

Bruce Tether, professor of innovation management and strategy, Manchester Business School

Francesca Raleigh O’Connell, independent analyst

Keith Howells, past chairman, A

Nelson Ogunshakin, chief executive, ACE

 

The judges for the young consultant of the year and outstanding achievement awards are:

Graham Nicholson, executive managing director, Tony Gee & Partners

Greg Lettington, national engineering director, Hays

Lucy Carraz, technical director, URS

Margo Cole, Consultants File editor, NCE

Antony Oliver, editor, Infrastructure Intelligence

Anil Iyer, chief operating oficer, ACE

If you would like to contact Antony Oliver about this, or any other story, please email antony.oliver@infrastructure-intelligence.com.