Judges Profile
Errol Lawson on what makes a winning entry at the Construction Awards of Excellence
Errol Lawson, Director of Emerge Leadership and founder of the Building the Future Awards, brings a people-focused perspective to his role as a judge for the Construction Awards of Excellence.
With a background in leadership development, coaching and working with young people and communities, Lawson has focused on improving access to careers in the built environment and creating stronger links between employers, education providers, local government and emerging talent.
In this Q & A, Lawson discusses what shaped his approach to leadership, what he looks for when judging award entries and why genuine excellence extends beyond technical delivery. He also reflects on the importance of collaboration, culture and long-term impact, as well as what the industry needs to do to create meaningful opportunities for the next generation of construction professionals.
1. Can you tell us a little about your journey into the built environment and what has shaped your approach to leadership?
My journey into the built environment didn’ t start with a hard hat, it started with people. My background is in leadership development, coaching and working with young people and communities, and it was through that work that I saw both the scale of opportunity in construction and how many talented people, particularly young people, simply couldn’ t see a route into it.
That gap is what led me to found the Building the Future Awards, not just as a
Professor( Hon) Errol Lawson
celebration but as a platform that brings employers, education providers, local and regional government and emerging talent into the same room. My approach to leadership has been shaped by that kind of convening work as much as anything else. I believe leadership is about recognising
Continued on p78
76 www. britbuild-magazine. co. uk