Generation for Change (G4C) North East and Tees Valley has announced the shortlist for its 2026 awards, celebrating the region’s emerging talent and the organisations committed to developing the next generation of construction professionals.
The awards, supported by headline sponsor Caddick Construction for the third consecutive year, will take place on 1 May at the Hilton, NewcastleGateshead.
G4C is part of Constructing Excellence, harnessing the young professional voice and helping to drive continuous improvement across the UK construction sector.
Category sponsors this year include Northern Counties Builders Federation, Bowmer + Kirkland, Castle, Northumbrian Water Group, Robertson and RED Engineering, the drinks reception sponsor for the evening.
A key highlight of the awards is the G4C Future Leader Award, sponsored by Caddick Construction, which recognises individuals demonstrating exceptional leadership potential early in their careers.
The shortlisted Future Leader finalists are:
Alanis Burgess (P+HS Architects)
Hannah McRae (Turner & Townsend)
Hollie Laws (Willmott Dixon Construction)
Jack Ibbetson (Wates Construction)
Louis Maw (Gleeds)
Louise Gifford (Link MEP)
Morteza Iranian (Turner & Townsend)
Niamh Kinnaird (Robertson CE)
The awards also celebrate organisations that are committed to building the leaders of the future. The Commitment to Employee and Training Development category, sponsored by Northumbrian Water Group, recognises businesses that invest in skills, mentorship and career pathways, creating environments where emerging talent can thrive and grow. The organisations shortlisted in this year’s category are Applebridge Family, Caddick Construction and Kier Group.
Catriona Lingwood, chief executive of Constructing Excellence North East, said: “It’s fantastic to see such a strong shortlist this year, across all categories. The calibre of finalists reflects the strength of our sector and we look forward to celebrating their achievements at the awards.
“A huge thank you to all of our sponsors and we wish everyone nominated the very best of luck on the night. A special thank you to our judges who found it exceptionally tough deciding the shortlist never mind the actual winners, showcasing the exceptional talent coming through across our region.”
Other award categories are:
• 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
Shortlisted nominees can be viewed here: https://cene.org.uk/g4c-awards-2025-category-information/generation4change-ne-awards-2026-finalists/
The G4C North East and Tees Valley Awards highlight the importance of both individual achievement and industry-wide investment in people, recognising that developing talent today is key to shaping the future of the sector. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, where the region’s construction community will come together to celebrate innovation, collaboration and excellence.