On Thursday 3rd October, East Midlands Business Link’s prestigious Bricks Awards will return to the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground to celebrate the region’s property and construction industry. With nominations open until Thursday 5th September, and 10 categories available to enter, take this opportunity to showcase your projects and team, reward their hard work, and boost morale. Amongst this year’s categories is Architects of the Year, which can be entered here. The winner of this award will be the architects who have had the greatest impact on the region, be it in a single development or a series of them. Originality, the ability to rise to a challenge or initiative shown in accomplishing a difficult brief, this award celebrates our architects. Schemes must have been completed over the last 12 months. Last year the award was won by Matthew Montague Architects, with IMA Architects and Influence Landscape Planning and Design runners up. Upon winning, Louise Jones, practice manager, Matthew Montague Architects, said: “We are delighted to win the Architects of the Year Award. 2023 is our 25th year in business and we are thrilled to receive this award in our milestone year. The event was well organised, well attended and thoroughly enjoyable.” This year’s Architects of the Year award will be sponsored by Mather Jamie. Speaking with Business Link, Amy Biddell, director at Mather Jamie, said: “This is Mather Jamie’s second year of sponsoring the Bricks Awards. The event is a great way to promote our services to an elite audience of landowners, property developers and building contractors. It’s great to be able to celebrate in a room full of like minded businesses who share a passion for the East Midlands construction sector. “For architects looking to submit an application, we will be looking for them to demonstrate an understanding of planning regulations so that development meets approval. Sustainability and biodiversity are hot keywords within the industry, so we will be looking for entries to showcase an innovative approach to sustainable working practices, which meet development briefs. “Other points to consider include;

1. Design ethos that shows sympathy to local aesthetics
2. Consideration for ecology/environment
3. Ease of construction without too many modifications to design or materials
4. Demonstrate client satisfaction
5. Schemes that also benefit the local community.”

Submit your nominations for Architects of the Year here before entries close on Thursday 5th September. Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground (4:30pm – 7:30pm) – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region, and hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby. Other award categories open for entry include: Commercial Development of the Year, Contractor of the Year, Responsible Business of the Year, Residential Development of the Year, Developer of the Year, Deal of the Year, Most Active Estate Agent, Excellence in Design, and Sustainable Development of the Year. All entry forms can be accessed here. The Overall Winner award will also be presented at the event. This award cannot be entered, with the winner selected from those nominated for the event’s other awards. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 will also receive a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.      

Companies across Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire are being urged to take up the offer of free training. North East Derbyshire District Council and Chesterfield Borough Council have joined forces to offer green skills and higher digital skills courses – made possible thanks to £200,000 worth of funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The green skills courses will help construction companies access skills development that will help them comply with the Future Homes Standard (FHS) – which requires new homes built from 2025 to produce significantly less carbon emissions than under current building regulations – and will also contribute to the UK achieving its 2050 net zero target. The higher level digital skills courses are open to businesses of any kind, interested in equipping their workforce with essential digital skills. Cllr Jayne Barry, North East Derbyshire District Council’s Cabinet member for Growth, said: “This is a great opportunity for businesses across our district to upskill their workforce as we move towards a greener and more sustainable future. Also, a future which is increasingly reliant on the use of technology, with all the rewards and threats that can bring.” Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and cabinet member for economic growth, said: “We’re committed to ensuring that everyone can improve their skills and access new career opportunities. These programmes will allow people to upskill in their current roles, access promotions and ensure local businesses have access to the skills they need. The focus on green skills will also help ensure we can become a carbon neutral area and reduce the impact of climate change.” Chesterfield College will be delivering green skills courses, including the installation of wall insulation, solar panels, and heat pumps, as well as hybrid vehicle awareness and a qualification in sustainability. Derby-based training provider Althaus Digital will deliver a suite of higher level digital skills training, including generative AI in digital marketing, cyber security and green digital training programmes. Courses start from 22 August 2024 and run until Feb/March 2025. Some are short one day courses, while others take place over several days. They will be delivered face-to-face and also online.

With just three weeks remaining until nominations close for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, ensure to submit your entries for the annual celebration of the property and construction industry by Thursday 5th September. It’s an opportunity to showcase successes, boost businesses’ profiles, reward teams, and bolster morale. Scheduled to take place on Thursday 3rd October (4:30pm – 7:30pm), the Bricks shine a light on the outstanding work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. We also highlight the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes. The glittering awards ceremony revealing winners, at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, will also offer the perfect chance to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. The event will additionally feature Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire as keynote speaker. To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page.  Award categories include:

• Most active agent
• Commercial development of the year
• Responsible business of the year
• Residential development of the year
• Developer of the year
• Deal of the year
• Architects of the year
• Excellence in design
• Sustainable development of the year
• Contractor of the year
• Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, with the winner, and recipient of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, selected from those nominated for the event’s other awards)

Nominations end Thursday 5th September

Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 3rd October 2024 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. Thanks to our sponsors:      

             

To be held at: