Property and Construction is the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce’s largest sector, with over 600 of their 4,500 members in this industry. They have established a reputable and effective Property and Construction offering responding to the needs of the members, including policy and campaign work across Greater Manchester acting as the voice of business in the region.
The Property and Construction Sector Group raise the issues that businesses in Greater Manchester face, so that the Chamber can then lobby on behalf of their members. Sector specific events throughout the year include:
Property and Construction Lunches
Sector networking and keynote speakers, including a two course lunch at prestigious venues across the region.
Property Focus
3-4 events held per year, aiming to be both proactive and reactive for the Property Sector
Construction Clubs
These events have been developed and are led by GMCC and private sector companies with support from respective local Councils. The aim is to introduce businesses to construction opportunities in the local area and explain the tendering process. This series runs across all areas.
Annual Construction Summit
A full day event to bring together 200+ delegates to network, take part in panel sessions, polling, workshops and exhibitions. All to discuss various aspects of the sector with the objective of sharing best practice, introducing new technologies and identifying how the sector can continue to grow in Greater Manchester.
Annual Dinner
Formal black tie dinner with around 300 delegates and awards ceremony for ‘Building of the Year’ and ‘Apprentice of the Year’.
Property and Construction Annual Dinner 2023
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce named Energy House 2.0 as ‘Building of the Year 2022’ at the Property and Construction Awards at Emirates Old Trafford. The Chamber’s Building of the Year Award recognises a building’s contribution to Greater Manchester both in terms of construction and development. This can include the building’s significance to the City Region, its impact on the local economy, its effect on the local community, its importance in terms of urban regeneration and environmental enhancement, its design excellence, or its contribution to urban design and townscape.
Energy House 2.0, which was completed in February 2022, is the ‘world’s-first’ all-weather research centre. The unique facility provides the UK and the wider world with something nobody else can – an environment for testing complete buildings and all types of products in the exact climatic conditions that 95% of the world’s population live in.
Domestic and International media have shown a huge interest in what Energy House 2.0 can do and it has received massive interest from across the globe including the USA and Japan. Companies of all sizes from large multi-nationals to local SMEs use Energy House 2.0 to test products from whole buildings to individual components and technologies such as EV charging, renewables and Building Management Systems. Early users of Energy House 2.0 include Barrett Homes and Muse Developments.
Highly Commended
This year the judges felt that one of the finalists, Castlefield Viaduct, also deserved a Highly Commended Award.
Castlefield Viaduct is an educational and a sensory experience, gently curving through the sky above Castlefield. It is the first project of its type undertaken by the National Trust and demonstrates that collaboration between different organisations can happen in the built environment to create something truly wonderful. There are already calls to make it a permanent feature of the city.
The other buildings shortlisted for the Building of the Year Award 2022 were: The Science Engineering and Environment (SEE) Building, Base and Crusader.
Commenting on the shortlisted buildings, Duncan Firth, Chair of the Chamber’s Property and Construction Group and Managing Director of Walker Sime, said: “These structures are about repurposing the old to create something new. About building modern cathedrals of learning. About tackling climate change, responding to the climate crisis and creating social good.”
Diane Elebert-Morgan, Property and Construction Group Manager at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, added: “Once again, the judges had a difficult time deciding on the shortlist. The five buildings shortlisted for the award are all very impressive and make a major contribution to Greater Manchester. This award celebrates the very best in design and construction and the winning building, Energy House 2.0, follows in a proud tradition of past award winners, which are now iconic Greater Manchester landmarks.
“Quite simply, there is nothing else like Energy House 2.0. It is a world-leading built environment technology on our very doorstep and we should be hugely proud of everyone who had a hand in ensuring that Greater Manchester leads the world in this type of practical scientific and industrial research.”
Previous winners of the Building of the Year Award include: RHS Garden Bridgewater (2021), The Oglesby Centre at Halle St Peters (2020), Manchester Alliance Business School (2019), The Christie Proton Beam Therapy Centre (2018), Oldham Town Hall (2017) Maggie’s Manchester (2016), The Whitworth (2015), Manchester Central Library (2014) and No. 1 Riverside, Rochdale (2013).
Apprentice of the Year
The Property and Constructions Awards also saw The Steve Burne Apprentice of the Year Award 2022 presented to Jennifer Wood. The award, which is named after a former Chairman of the Chamber’s Property and Construction Group, is given each year to an outstanding apprentice working in the Property and Construction sector in Greater Manchester. Diane said: “In presenting this award we celebrate the hard work and enthusiasm of all the young people who are beginning their careers in this fantastic industry.”
The Greater Manchester Chamber thanks sponsor by D+H UK for the Property and Construction Awards 2023. For more information on how to get involved with the Chamber please contact our team on: +44(0)161 393 4321 or email: Diane.ElebertMorgan@gmchamber.co.uk or visit our website: gmchamber.co.uk
