
British Forces in Business honour for Rachael Smith
27 Jun 2025Congratulations to Rachael Smith, our Head of HR – Strategy & Transformation, who was named Role Model of the Year at the British Forces in Business Awards 2025.
Our project at Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire was awarded the title of 'Best Large Commercial Project' at the Grand Final of the LABC Building Excellence Awards.
A panel of industry experts judged a list of the highest quality projects from around England and Wales to reward the best in technical innovation, sustainability, safety and design.
Working with the local authority building control team from Civicance at Cheshire East Council the designers, contractor and their client have created a stunning new global headquarters of the SKA Organisation. This is an intergovernmental organisation set up to build and operate the Square Kilometre Array, the world’s largest radio telescope. The Jodrell Bank scheme had UK Government backing through the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the University of Manchester and Cheshire East Council.
The panel of expert judges said:
“The building is a superb example of high-quality commercial design resulting in extremely good performance characteristics exceeding building regulations with a detail quality matching any in the commercial sector. While its primary function is highly technical the building manages to provide an attractive and human working environment.”
The Grand Final of the LABC Building Excellence Awards took place on Friday 8th November 2019 at the Westminster Park Plaza in London and was hosted by multi award winning comedian Milton Jones. Over 800 building industry professionals including contractors, architects and engineers attended the celebration to find out which projects won across the 15 hotly contested categories.
These awards showcase buildings and design teams that tussle with complex technical or construction issues and building site constraints. They highlight innovative and creative solutions and building control professionalism that leads to safe, sustainable and high quality construction projects.
Our building excellence awards are an opportunity for the industry to celebrate good practice. Our winners demonstrate how positive working relationships with local council building control teams achieve high quality, sustainable buildings. Our awards are unique because they recognise how this cooperation improves building standards and professionalism across the industry.
Paul Everall LABC Chief Executive
Congratulations to Rachael Smith, our Head of HR – Strategy & Transformation, who was named Role Model of the Year at the British Forces in Business Awards 2025.
Hexham Hospital and Farringdon Row MSCP winners at Constructing Excellence North East Awards 2025
ONE Station Hill reaches the national final after scooping South West and Wales regional prize for Commercial Workplace
Our use of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) in the conversion of the two former market buildings in Smithfield into the new London Museum provides an excellent example of sustainable engineering excellence.
Congratulations to Rachael Smith, our Head of HR – Strategy & Transformation, who was named Role Model of the Year at the British Forces in Business Awards 2025.
During Armed Forces Week, we speak to Katy Maloney to understand how our commitment to the Forces community provides essential support for military families.