HEADLINE SPONSORS
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About The Awards
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#BTF2026
A People-Focused Platform for the Construction and Built Environment Sector
Building the Future is an independent platform dedicated to recognising, developing, and connecting people across the construction and built environment sector.
The platform was established to support long-term workforce development by creating credible routes for recognition, leadership visibility, and collaboration between employers, educators, and early-career professionals.
Building the Future operates with a clear focus on integrity, independence, and impact — supporting the industry to invest in people in a structured and meaningful way.
OUR PURPOSE
The construction industry depends on a strong, capable, and future-ready workforce.
Building the Future exists to help strengthen that workforce by ensuring talent is identified, recognised, supported, and connected.
Our purpose is to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity by creating platforms that highlight professional contribution, leadership capability, and positive industry impact across all stages of the career journey.
WHAT WE DO
Building the Future operates as a year-round ecosystem, working across recognition, development, and connection.
Recognition
The Building the Future Awards provide an independently judged framework for recognising excellence across education, training, employers, students, apprentices, early-career professionals, digital innovation, sustainability, and social value.
Recognition is evidence-based and designed to reflect real contribution and future potential.
Development
Through mentoring, leadership development, and careers engagement initiatives, Building the Future supports individuals and organisations to build capability, confidence, and progression pathways within the sector.
Connection
The platform brings together employers, educators, industry partners, and emerging talent — creating opportunities for collaboration, alignment, and shared learning.
Professor Errol Lawson
Founder & Director
Professor Errol Lawson is an award-winning entrepreneur, leadership specialist, and educator with over a decade of experience working across construction, education, and workforce development.
He is the Founder of Emerge Leadership UK CIC, through which he has delivered leadership training, coaching, and mentoring programmes to organisational leaders and young people since 2010.
His work focuses on developing confident, values-driven leaders and supporting organisations to build strong cultures, effective teams, and future-ready talent pipelines.
Professor Lawson holds a Master’s degree in Enterprise Management and a Level 7 qualification in Strategic Leadership. His professional background spans leadership development, change management, and project management, enabling him to work at both strategic and operational levels with employers, educators, and community partners.
He is also a best-selling author of five books, writing on leadership, entrepreneurship, personal development, and overcoming adversity.
His work is recognised for its clarity, authenticity, and practical application, resonating with audiences across business, education, and the public sector.
In recognition of his impact and contribution, Professor Lawson has received multiple honours, including:
- West Midlands Leadership Award (2021)
- Young Male Entrepreneur of the Year, BEX Live (2015)
- Local Hero Award, Association of Jamaican Nationals (2014)
- Finalist, NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards
- Finalist, Birmingham Young Professional of the Year
- Featured in the Birmingham Post Power 250, recognising the region’s most influential leaders
Professor Lawson founded the Building the Future Awards to ensure the next generation of construction and built environment professionals are visible, celebrated, and supported.
Under his leadership, the platform has grown into a nationally recognised ecosystem encompassing awards, leadership development, mentoring, summits, and careers engagement — all grounded in the belief that the future of construction is built through people.
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#BTF2026
OUR INDEPENDENCE AND CREDIBILITY
Credibility sits at the heart of Building the Future.
All awards and programmes are underpinned by independent judging panels, clear and transparent assessment criteria, evidence-led decision-making, and a non pay-to-play approach.
This commitment ensures recognition is meaningful, trusted, and respected across the sector.
WHO WE SERVE
Building the Future supports the full construction ecosystem, including employers investing in skills, leadership, and culture; universities, FE colleges, and training providers; students, apprentices, and early-career professionals; and industry partners and stakeholders committed to long-term workforce development.
OUR LONG-TERM COMMITMENT
Building the Future is committed to contributing to a stronger, more inclusive, and better-prepared construction industry.
By providing credible recognition, leadership visibility, and structured connection across the sector, the platform aims to support sustainable workforce development for the long term.
The future of construction depends on people.
Building the Future exists to support them.