Generation for Change (G4C) North East and Tees Valley has announced the shortlist for its tenth annual awards, supported by headline sponsor, Caddick Construction.
The awards ceremony will take place on May 2 at the NewcastleGateshead Hilton Hotel.
G4C is part of Constructing Excellence, harnessing the young professional voice and helping to drive continuous improvement in the UK built environment industry.
Category sponsors include Bowmer+Kirkland, Northumbrian Water Group, Northern Counties Builders Federation, RED Engineering, Sir Robert McAlpine and Tilbury Douglas. Drinks reception sponsor for the night is Kier Construction.
The evening will highlight the region’s leading organisations and brightest emerging talent in the built environment sector. Two such awards — G4C Future Leader Award and Apprentice of the Year — recognise outstanding contributions in these areas.
The G4C Future Leader Award, supported by headline sponsor Caddick Construction, celebrates young professionals demonstrating exceptional leadership potential. Nominees include Catherine Sinclair (Space Group), Charlie Sander (Thompsons of Prudhoe), Cheryl Sutherland (RE:GEN Group), James Edgar (Wates), Lewis Blakelock (FW Capital), Mark Davison (MGL Group), Michael O’Connor (Rider Levett Bucknall), Nicole Anderson (Turner & Townsend) and Olivia Douglas (GenNorth). These individuals have shown the leadership qualities needed to drive innovation and positive change in the industry.
Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Northern Counties Builders Federation, celebrates the region’s rising stars in construction. Trade apprentice nominees include Daniel Lockey (True North Construction Ltd), Ethan Nicholls (TClarke) and Harvey Futter (John N Dunn Group), who have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication and promise in their trade.
Following the lead of Constructing Excellence in collaborative practice, G4C North East and Tees Valley aims to become the organisation that is the driving force for industry change, through the development and connection of the future industry leaders.
With the recent £600 million government investment into the construction and built environment sector, this is a pivotal time to recognise those shaping the future of the sector in the North East.
The award categories:
• G4C Future Leader Award
• Trade Apprentice of the Year
• Technical Apprentice of the Year
• Student of the Year
• Trainee of the Year
• New Professional of the Year
• Mentor of the Year
• Commitment to Employee and Training Development
Shortlisted nominees can be viewed here: G4C Awards 2025 – Shortlist – CENE
Catriona Lingwood, chief executive of Constructing Excellence North East, said: “As we celebrate the tenth year of the G4C Awards, it’s inspiring to see how far we’ve come in recognising and supporting emerging talent in the North East. The calibre of entries in this year’s shortlist is a true testament to the incredible potential we have in the region. These individuals and organisations represent the future of the industry, driving forward positive change and contributing to the region’s growth.
“Over the past decade, the G4C Awards have become a key platform for showcasing young professionals and we are proud to continue championing their journey. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and judges for their ongoing support and we look forward to celebrating the finalists and supporting their future success here in the North East.”