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Guernsey Property and Construction Awards
With not long to wait until this year’s Guernsey Property and Construction Awards are held in early November, nominations have closed and judging has commenced.
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This year, the awards organisers have seen a record number of nominations submitted via the public nomination process, which closed on 27 August. Now, the judges have the challenge of sorting through the wide range of deserving candidates to create the shortlist in each category, and then decide on an overall winner.
The nine categories have seen many firms and individuals across the industry have their work recognised by their clients and peers. But there can only be one winner in each category, and they will be announced at the gala evening in November.
For more information on the awards, including previous winners, visit
www.guernseyconstructionawards.com
THE CATEGORIES FOR THIS YEAR’S AWARDS ARE:
Rising star Engineering project of the year Construction professional of the year Industry supplier of the year Property professional of the year Landscape project of the year Best construction project under £300k Best construction project over £300k Lifetime achievement award
THE GALA EVENING
When | Thursday 4 November
Where | St Pierre Park Hotel
What | Arrival drinks, three-course meal
with coffee, entertainment and the awards ceremony
Cost | Tickets are £75 each
(£750 for a table of 10)
Booking | Email hello@collaborateci.com
to reserve your seats
THE JUDGES
An impartial panel of industry experts judge the awards, shortlisting the nominations and deciding on the overall winner.
This year, the panel includes:
Martyn Baudains
Partner and property lawyer at Ogier
John Bampkin
Chair of the Guernsey Construction Forum and CEO of the Norman Piette Group
Tony Rowbotham
Managing director of Savills
Paul Le Tissier
Representing the Guernsey branch of the Chartered Institute of Building
John Litchfield
Managing director of Channel Island Ceramics
Mark Farey
Managing director of HVC
Sandra Robinson
Managing director of Sandra Robinson Kitchens
Jon Sheppard
Managing director of Sheppards Estate Agents
SPONSORS
Gold sponsor
Silver sponsors
MEET YOUR HOST …
The host for this year’s awards is well-known local media personality, and business editor of the Guernsey Press, Will Green. We spoke to him about his thoughts on the industry and the vital role it plays in the island’s economy.
Why is Guernsey’s construction industry so important to the island’s economy?
Construction is not just about bricks and mortar. It is much more than that.
Not only does it provide jobs, it also helps power the wider economy.
Think Admiral Park, for example, providing fit for purpose office accommodation for the critical finance sector.
Think too the Premier Inn development which should play a vital part in attracting visitors to our shores.
More than that even, it provides homes for our families.
The local property market has had an interesting time recently, with prices increasing rapidly. What’s your take on that?
It is likely to be due to a combination of factors, including:
• Historically low interest rates; • Accumulated savings through the pandemic – e.g. discretionary spending that might have gone on other things is funnelled into houses; • Possibility of mismatch between availability and demand; and • There is also a flipside, for example, that you might only be able to access low interest rates with sufficient savings / help from family if trying to get on the property ladder - although lenders have recognised this is an issue.
As business editor at the Guernsey Press, and a keen follower of politics, is there anything you feel that could be done by the States to support Guernsey’s property and construction sectors?
One recurring perception of concern is the planning system - is it functioning effectively? What could be done to improve it, while balancing our environmental and social concerns?
The States could consider stimulating spending by investing government funds into the regeneration and redevelopment of certain areas of the island. Leale’s Yard, for example, is a clear opportunity that could be taken advantage of.
Infrastructure investment is an obvious answer. The island has had a lack of capital spending on projects for a number of years – there are now plenty in the pipeline, but putting those into action would clearly benefit the industry.
Finally, with a skills shortage welldocumented, supporting training and vocational skills would be positive action for the States.
Why are professional awards events, such as these, so important?
Award events are an opportunity to showcase the incredible work of industry and I think giving people a pat on the back for their achievements is also a good thing to do.
Importantly, I believe that having this type of recognition available to the industry can also help inspire and spread good practice.
BIOGRAPHY WILL GREEN
Will has been a journalist for 20 years, with a career that has taken him from the corridors of Number 10 and the Houses of Parliament as a political editor, to planes, trains and automobiles as a transport correspondent, to helicopters flying over Bosnia, terrorism stories and more.
Now business editor at the Guernsey Press and editor of Business Brief magazine, Will covers the whole range of stories affecting business in the island and further afield. His expertise also lends itself to coverage of major political issues such as Brexit, tax and more.
