Mace wins inaugural Sir Michael Latham award

Mace has been named as the inaugural winner of the Sir Michael Latham Award at the 2018 Construction News Awards, for our ‘rising factories’. 

The new award is given to the best entry from all the categories at the Construction News Awards, intended to reward ‘something truly exceptional’. 

Mace’s 'rising factories' at N08 East Village were deemed by the judges to be a ‘definite game-changer’ for the industry, and were also awarded a prize in the Innovation category. 

Sir Michael Latham – who died in November last year – was the author of the seminal ‘Constructing the Team’ report on the construction industry, published in 1994. Sir Michael’s legacy also included his work as chairman of the CITB, ConstructionSkills and Willmott Dixon, prior to which he served as an MP for 18 years.

The award was presented by Sir Michael’s two sons, James and Richard. It is supported by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

 Business and Industry Minister Richard Harrington MP, said:

“Mace is championing the sort of innovation, collaboration and investment in skills that must become standard practice in the construction sector to meet the nation’s infrastructure and housing needs.

“The government has made the biggest investment in construction for at least a decade through our modern Industrial Strategy and Construction Sector Deal, and together with industry we are working to create buildings that are smarter, safer and cheaper to run.”

The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Robert Jenrick MP, said:

“We are backing Britain with record investment in infrastructure so we can build a country that is fit for the future.

“The construction industry must play its part by closing its £15 billion annual productivity gap.

“Mace’s innovative way of building has the potential to increase safety and efficiency right across the sector.”

Mark Reynolds, Mace’s Chief Executive, said:  

“We are hugely honoured to receive the first annual Sir Michael Latham Award for our work on the rising factories at N08 East Village. Sir Michael’s work had a massive impact on the construction industry, encouraging us all to push forward innovation, improve how we work and build on his legacy. 

“For Mace, the rising factories represent an evolution of how we can deliver buildings, and this award is a fantastic recognition of all the hard work done by our project team and supply chain to make that a reality. It’s also important to acknowledge that we can’t deliver innovation like this on our own – this award would not have been possible without the support of our clients; Qatari Diar and Delancey.”