Updated by Nazanin Ghodsian, 10/07/2024
The much awaited award season is drawing near as the third quarter of the year approaches! It might be difficult for a lot of people working in the construction industry to identify and suggest a worthy person or group for an award. Although the construction awards are normally held at the end of the year, you’re given a timely reminder one month ahead of time with this article. These honors showcase experts who continuously pursue innovation and achievement in the field in addition to providing online awareness.
The Digital Construction Awards, which highlight innovation and best practices in fields including information management, digital technology, and building information modeling (BIM) in the built environment industry, are among the most important occasions in this field. The main contributors to the digital revolution in building are honored at a distinguished dinner that marks the event’s culmination.
The Constructing Construction Awards are also a yearly highlight in the sector. These prestigious prizes have a regional to nationwide structure. The winners of regional construction awards move on to the national finals, where they honor excellence in all sectors of the building industry. The top individuals and organizations in the built environment from all over the world will be featured at the late-autumn event. The awards, which include categories reviewed by a team of specialists known for their contributions to innovation in the sector, seek to recognize those who have spearheaded good change.
At the National Construction Awards, more than 100 finalists represent their regions each year; only sixteen of them are crowned National Winners. Companies and teams have a great chance to be recognized nationally for their efforts in pushing boundaries and attaining excellence in the industry by participating in this event.
In addition to honoring accomplishments, the Construction Awards serve as a stage for showcasing novel concepts, approaches, and technological advancements that are revolutionizing the sector. It is a great chance for nominees and winners to advance their careers because they receive a great deal of publicity. The significance of taking part in such events is further shown by the fact that 94% of award winners report a favorable impact on their firm, including greater trust and credibility, according to a recent survey.
Table of Contents
What’s the General Onsite Award 2024 for Building and Construction?
The 2024 General Onsite Construction awards of the Building and Civil Construction sector are awarded to employers and employees in on-site building, engineering, or civil construction. This construction award covers on-site general building and construction workers, civil construction, metal, and engineering construction staff. The confirmation that the Enterprise Agreement is in place or not shall be the first thing an employer or worker must do. This is important.
If this is the case, you should refer to the award’s terms of reference in your EA and make sure that workers are not disadvantaged. The fact that the base pay rate provided for in the Register Agreement cannot be lower than what is applicable under the award must also be borne in mind.
In the background to this, you also need to become familiar with the National Employment Standards (NES) because there are conditions in it that may be relevant to you. For instance, employees are entitled to a maximum of 4 weeks of paid leave per year in the case of permanent or part-time workers.
If it is established that an employer underpays its employees, also known as wage theft, then the employer may be subject to severe sanctions. Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) employees can take legal action to recover underpaid wages within six years of being underpaid. However, in the case of infringements, a Fair Work Ombudsman FWO may also initiate proceedings. However, as the construction sector is so large that it may be possible for a staff member to carry out work covered by several construction awards, determining whether or not an award applies and which of these sections can be very difficult.
List of Duties for the Construction Awards
A comprehensive list of duties, broken down into three parts which trigger its implementation as shown below, is included in the construction award:
General Building and Construction
- The Construction
- Alteration
- Extension
- restoration
- Repair, Demolition, or Dismantling of Buildings
- Structures or Works That Form the Land Site Clearance
- Earthmoving
- Excavation
- Site Restoration
- Landscaping
- Structure
Civil Construction
- Civil or Mechanical Engineering Projects
- Car Parks (Except Car Park Buildings and Car Parks That Are Within a Building)
- Power Transmission
- Structures
- Power Houses, Chemical Plants, Hydrocarbons or Oil Treatment Plants or Refineries
- Silos
- Sports Entertainment Complexes
- Roads, Railways and Tramways
- Water and Sewerage Works
- Dams, Channels, Water Works, and Pipe Tracks
- Bridges and Tunnels
- Drains or Conduits.
- Along With Works Connected to the Above Such As:
- Traffic Management
- Dredging and Sluicing Work
- Construction Work for Landscape Gardens
- Batch Plants and Precast Yards
Metal and Engineering Construction
- Metal Trades Work Performed in the Work of Construction
- Fabrication
- Erection or Installation
- Power Stations
- Oil Refineries
- Terminals and Depots
- Major Industrial and Commercial Undertakings
- Plant Facilities and Equipment
- Treatment of Minerals and Chemicals
- Lifts and Escalators
- Facilities and Equipment in Other Engineering Projects; And
- Maintenance or Repair
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Why is it Necessary for Your Business to Comply with the Construction Award?
To ensure compliance and minimize risks of litigation, employers must be aware of their legal responsibilities. This award is very large and comprehensive, so there are a lot of underpayments due to misunderstandings. Human error, the incorrect number of entries in payroll systems, penalty rates, or other entitlements such as pay increases and loadings that have not been applied are among the most frequent causes of mistakes we see.
When an employee receives a lower level of pay but continues to perform higher levels of work, underpayment may also occur. Given changes in age, employment status, qualifications, and completion of educational courses, employers have to be alert and adjust their payments. In addition, the Fair Work Commission shall review each year and update national minimum wages and minimum rates on an annual basis with any updates to be made from 1 July.
Given this wide range of considerations, it is necessary to keep up to date with any changes in the award which will ensure that collective agreements and employment contracts are consistent with minimum entitlements. It will remain in force until the end of the Enterprise Agreement. Employers need to be careful to replace and register new agreements, that are relevant and above the minimum wage, or to include award provisions that are better for the overall benefit of workers.
Proper records need to be kept such as rosters, timesheets, diary entries, and pay slips so if a dispute does arise such records will assist in its resolution which can be resolved internally before it escalates. In enterprise agreements or modernization construction awards, the Commission is authorized to resolve disputes between parties in a dispute settlement procedure using confidentiality mediation and conciliation.
Construction Award Changes
Changes to key construction Modern construction awards awarded by the Fair Work Commission as part of its review case are now in force. There have been changes to the Onsite Award as well as a change concerning the joinery award, both of which will be applicable from today when the full pay period begins or ends.
Since the start of the review, professionals have appeared before the Commission almost 50 times, including two weeks of full bench hearings, and submitted more than 100 written observations. In those two years, companies have stood up to a range of complaints by six trade unions and fought for the changes that would make Modern Construction awards more simple, understandable, and effective for its members.
Although this review is still in progress, a majority of the main questions have been resolved and are now being addressed. Despite the rigorous process, the overall outcome has been positive, with the construction awards improving in several important areas as a direct result of the lobbying of Master Builders.
When do the Changes Take Effect?
The amendment is applicable from the beginning of the 1st full salary period running up to or after 1 July 2020, and there is a strong recommendation that awardees undertake an examination of their working arrangements to be able to comply with those conditions. Significant changes have been made to the Onsite award, including the removal of allowances above 60 and special rates, simplified RDO arrangements, the introduction of a formal “time off” instead of overtime, the creation of a new “early morning shift” to fill the gap in the shift work clause, and the introduction of a new “time off” instead of overtime.
Provision has also been made for the simplification of the distance work arrangements, as well as for the adjustment of the fares and the travel pattern allowances. Forepersons and supervisors in the metal and engineering construction sector have been simplified, and annual leave loading provisions have been simplified. The Onsite Award no longer applies to staff working on soil, concrete, and aggregate testing.
The Joinery Award has also changed, including updating transfers, traveling, and working away from the usual place of work provision, introducing time off instead of overtime, and allowing employers and most of their employees to agree on changing ordinary hours of work and rostering, breaks, and overtime.
These changes are not related to the JobKeeper system and will be carried out continuously. In a few weeks, the MBA case is due to start, to create more flexibility in the award of construction contracts. The timetable for the fourth year has not yet been finalized, but there are still some minor issues related to training salaries and payment arrangements that need to be resolved before the end of the year.
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Top 10 Construction Awards to Know
The construction industry is an important sector in the world’s economy and these 10 companies have long been at the forefront when it comes to building projects. The construction industry is an important sector, and the 10 companies listed here are some of the best in the world. The world’s biggest companies have been at the forefront of building construction for decades, from infrastructure projects to housing developments. Let’s see who made it to this list of the most famous construction companies in 2024.
1. Top 100 Influential Women in Construction by National Federation of Builders (NFB)
Through their actions and support for others, these nominations will help to shine a light on those working to promote equality, diversity, inclusion, and equity in the industry. To recognize the women who have overcome obstacles and inspired a new generation of leaders, The Top 100 Women in Construction awards will feature many of the industry’s top names.
To recognize women who overcome obstacles and inspire future generations of construction leaders. These construction awards are voted for by the industry itself, and shortlists of winners will be announced in the evening.
Recognizing an Individual
- Allies of Inclusion and Equity in the construction industry Individuals who are making a difference by promoting inclusion and equity.
- The list of most influential women in the area of clients, contractors, and designers. There are subcategories for the award, namely client influence, designer influence, and contractor influence.
- Local heroes: Women who work at the grassroots and make an impact on their communities, projects, or places of residence. These are local heroes in the following areas: southern, eastern, Midwest, southwest, northwest, northeast, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
- Woman on the Tools – Any woman who works within the trade.
- One to look out for women working in the building sector, who have worked at least three years but are blazing a trail in the promotion of equality, diversity, inclusion, and equity.
Deadline: June 2024
2. National Apprenticeship Construction awards by the Department for Education
The National Apprenticeship Construction awards call upon leading apprenticeship providers, apprentices, and advocates of apprenticeships throughout England to tell their stories about how apprenticeships have played a significant part in shaping organizations and careers.
For those who work towards or have recently completed their apprenticeships, the categories of apprentice of the year seek to recognize them. In addition to celebrating employers who can demonstrate their commitment, contributions, and success of apprenticeships at work, the Employer’s Year categories allow employers in all sectors to be recognized.
Recognizing an Apprentice
- The Babington Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year.
- The BT Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year.
- The Royal Navy Award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year.
- The Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year.
- The Royal Air Force Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year.
Recognizing a Company
- The BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Award for SME Employer of the Year: 1-249 employees.
- The British Army Award for Large Employer of the Year: 250- 4,999 employees.
- The Amazon Award for Macro Employer of the Year: 5,000+ employees.
- The Royal Mail Award for Recruitment Excellence.
Deadline: 30 June 2024.
3. Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Construction awards by Construction News and New Civil Engineer
It acknowledges that an individual or company is making great efforts to create a good working environment for women within the construction industry and its companies. Each category is designed for the presentation of individual or company initiatives.
These categories highlight amazing women, teams, initiates, and innovative companies that include the best contractors, consultants, and businesses in this sector.
Recognizing an Individual
- Technical Excellence.
- Contribution to a Project. Inspirational Leader.
- Contribution to Gender Diversity.
- Rising Star – Technical Excellence.
- Rising Star – Contribution to a Project.
- Rising Star – Contribution to Gender Diversity.
- STEM Champion.
- Allyship Champion of the Year.
Recognizing a Company
- Excellence in Outreach.
- Excellence in Inclusive Employment.
- Excellence in Senior Leadership.
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year.
- Network of the Year.
- Inspiring Women – Consultant of the Year.
- Inspiring Women – Contractor of the Year.
Deadline: 5 May 2024.
4. RICS Matrics Young Surveyor of the Year Construction awardsby RICS
These prestigious award ceremonies provide an opportunity for individuals and employers to celebrate the highest standards of professional conduct and innovation in a built environment. They pay tribute to those who have made a significant contribution to the development of the sector, while also recognizing them as leaders in their field.
Recognizing an Individual
- Apprentice of the Year.
- Facilities Management Surveyor of the Year.
- Building Surveyor/ Control Surveyor of the Year.
- Commercial Property Surveyor of the Year.
- Land (Rural and Urban) Surveyor of the Year.
- Project Manager of the Year.
- Residential property Surveyor of the Year. Quantity/Construction Surveyor of the Year.
- Valuation Surveyor of the Year.
- Mentor of the Year.
- Ambassador of the Year.
Deadline: 09 June 2024.
5. Women in Construction Construction awards by Design and Build UK
This award recognizes the contributions of women to the sector, their time in it, and how they’ve helped attract other industry players, problems they have overcome, results achieved within their respective sectors, reasons for having been nominated as well as plans.
Recognizing an Individual
- On the Tools – For all women working on the tools – the backbone of the industry.
- Industry Pioneer – Someone who has paved the way to supporting and finding new ways to progress women’s place in the industry.
- Business Owner – Any successful woman running her own business in construction.
- Rising Star – Some of the most amazing stories in construction start at the bottom of the ladder. Tell your story to earn this award.
Recognizing a Company
- Most Inclusive project – A project that has sought to be more inclusive for women, with a higher percentage of women on site, including the framework of contractors and suppliers as well as your in-house team.
- Inclusive Company – This category is so important in displaying what companies as a whole do for women in construction and inclusivity in general.
Deadline: 30th June 2024.
6. BPIC Construction awards by BPIC Network
To improve ethnic minority representation in the built environment, BPIC Network cooperates with industry organizations. The objective is to facilitate job opportunities for the construction sector while working together with organizations wishing to improve diversity in their labor force, including by developing black and ethnic minority workers.
Recognizing an Individual
- Rising Star.
- Graduate of the Year.
- Mentor of the Year.
- Industry Role Model.
- Inspiring Diversity Champion. Apprentice of the Year.
Recognizing a Company
- Best Community Project.
- Best Internal Race Network.
- Best Small Business.
Deadline: TBC, in the meantime start nominating
7. AFBE-UK 3rd Gala & Construction awards by Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK)
In celebration of the increasing diversity of the engineering landscape and the contribution of companies and individuals to the sector, the AFBEUK Gala & Construction Awards Night will take place in the evening. The construction awards provide companies and individuals with a pathway to success, as well as inspire the next generation and industry’s evolution, by providing unprecedented levels of recognition before their peers in the sector.
In the Engineering Sector, entries may be submitted by all individuals and companies registered in the United Kingdom.
Recognizing an Individual
- A Young BME Professional of the Year.
- The STEM Champion of the Year.
- Leader of the Year for BME.
- I’m the Mentor of the Year.
Recognizing a Company
- The Company of the Year.
Deadline: June 2024.
8. CIBSE Young Engineer Award by the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers
It gives recognition to innovative thought, challenging work, and skills of graduates in the field of Engineering while simultaneously highlighting employers who have made a genuine commitment to develop and support new talent.
Recognizing an Individual
- CIBSE ASHRAE Graduates of the Year Award.
- Award for CIBSE Apprentice of the Year.
Recognizing a Company
- The Award of CIBSE’s Employer of the Year.
Deadline: 31st July 2024.
9. The New Civil Engineer Graduate & Apprentice Construction awards by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
The most inspiring graduates and apprentices in civil engineering are to be recognized and rewarded through these construction awards.
The New Civil Engineer Graduate and Apprentice Construction awards, sponsored by the ICE, are now open for entries. The construction awards recognize UK-based civil engineering graduates and apprentices in three main categories: Graduate of the Year, Apprentice of the Year, and Degree Apprentice of the Year. In addition, there are three outstanding contribution prizes up for grabs: Carbon Net Zero buildings, Digital Engineering, and Prestigious Contribution to the Industry.
The goal of these construction awards is to make it easier for candidates to share their careers, experience, and perspectives with an eye on understanding how Artificial Intelligence will influence industry and supply chain change over the next five years.
Recognizing an Individual
- Apprentice of the Year.
- Degree Apprentice of the Year.
- I’m the Graduate of the Year.
- Most Significant Contribution to Carbon Neutrality.
- This Is a Great Contribution to Digital Engineering.
- Most Important Contribution to Industry.
Deadline: Friday 28 July 2024.
10. Awards by London’s Building Expo
The London Building Construction Awards celebrate the achievements, progress, and innovation in Britain’s booming construction sector by involving a range of different categories for solution providers, suppliers, contractors, architects, engineers, developers, local authorities, and more.
The London Construction Awards are organized to recognize major achievements, developments, and innovations in the construction sector of the United Kingdom. In 2024, there has been a record number of entries with the highest quality in all categories. All the finalists, I’d like to give you, my congratulations! Sponsorship of a construction awards category, champagne reception, drink packages, registration platform, and many other opportunities will give unprecedented exposure to thousands of key players in the sector.
Recognizing an individual
- The Award for Women in Construction.
- The Diversity of Inclusion Award.
- Rising Star Award.
Deadline: 2nd June 2024.
Secrets to Winning Construction Awards
To enter an award, it’s crucial to understand the purpose, be selective, conduct due diligence, focus on specific projects or people, use clear language, have a clear story to tell, and include clients as a secret weapon. This involves understanding the reasons behind the award and how it aligns with marketing goals and business strategy. Doing due diligence involves seeing previous winners, sponsors, organizers, and judges. It’s also important to consider the value of the construction awards and treat the entry like a bid, using assessment criteria as a scoring matrix.
Focus on the project or person in question and use language that is understandable to real people. Clients are the key drivers for project-related entries, so include testimonials, feedback, and involvement in tour elements. Make time for an independent review and be specific about what the reviewer will review, such as proofing, structure, scoring, and phrasing. Photography is also essential for strengthening an award entry, especially in design-led industries.
To stand out in person during a judge’s visit for the RIBA Regional Construction awards, consider conveying key messages and stories in your entry and using the tour to build on the original narrative. Write down your application that can be demonstrated well in person. If a judge’s tour is part of the construction awards, show the key areas they need to judge and explain why if possible.
For example, if a residential project involves a home in the development, show it inside and bonus points if you can meet a resident or client. Share your construction awards journey with your audience on social media, emails, banners, and your website. Construction awards can create brilliant content in themselves, and the actual content created can be reused in bids.
Conclusion
The 2024 General Onsite Award for Building and Construction covers general building and construction workers, civil construction, metal, and engineering construction staff. It requires employers to confirm the existence of an Enterprise Agreement and ensure workers are not disadvantaged. The award covers various duties, including general building and construction, civil construction, and metal and engineering construction. Employers must ensure workers are not disadvantaged and comply with the National Employment Standards (NES) for their rights.
Employers must adhere to the Construction Award to avoid underpayments and minimize litigation risks. Mistakes can occur due to human error, incorrect payroll entries, or unapplied entitlements. Employers must adjust payments based on changes in age, employment status, qualifications, and educational courses. The Fair Work Commission reviews national minimum wages and rates annually, and employers must keep records of their agreements. Amendments require awardees to examine their working arrangements to comply.
The Women in Construction Awards by Design and Build UK recognizes the contributions of women in the construction sector and their efforts to attract other industry players. The BPIC Construction awards aim to improve ethnic minority representation in the built environment by facilitating job opportunities and developing black and ethnic minority workers. The AFBE-UK 3rd Gala & Construction Awards celebrate the engineering landscape’s diversity and contributions. The CIBSE Young Engineer Award recognizes the innovative thought and skills of engineering graduates. The New Civil Engineer Graduate & Apprentice Construction awards recognize UK-based civil engineering graduates and apprentices.
FAQs
What is the General Onsite Award for Building and Construction in 2024?
- Answer: Employers and workers engaged in on-site civil construction, engineering, or building projects are eligible for the 2024 General Onsite Award for Building and Construction. It includes laborers in the engineering, metal, and general building industries. It guarantees that workers have a right to fair pay and working conditions and that any existing enterprise agreements must not negatively impact workers.
How do I know if my Enterprise Agreement (EA) aligns with the General Onsite Award?
- Answer: The first thing you should do is see if your place of employment has an Enterprise Agreement (EA). The General Onsite Award’s compensation rates and requirements must be met or surpassed by the EA. Employers are also required to make sure that base pay does not fall short of what the Award stipulates and that the EA does not cause employees to be at a disadvantage in relation to the provisions of the Award.
What Legal Actions can be Taken if an Employer Underpays Employees Under the Construction Award?
- Answer: The following tasks are covered by the General Onsite Construction Award:
- Site clearing, earthmoving, excavation, landscaping, repair, demolition, and dismantling are all included in general building and construction.
- Roadways, bridges, tunnels, power transmission structures, and waterworks are examples of civil construction projects.
- Power plant, oil refinery, and industrial facility fabrication, erection, and installation are examples of metal trades and engineering construction.
What are some Duties Covered Under the General Onsite Construction Award?
- Answer: The General Onsite Award has seen significant changes, such as the simplification of allowances, the substitution of “Time off” for overtime, changes to travel allowances and costs, and improvements to rostered day off (RDO) arrangements. To close loopholes in the award’s shift terms, new shift work requirements, like “Early morning shifts,” have also been added.
Suggested articles for reading:
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Resources:
Master Builders Solutions | Abbas Marketing | Fair Time
For all the pictures: Freepik
