Andrew James wins construction industry achievement award

Andrew James, a Partner in HCR Law’s Construction and Engineering team, has been awarded ‘Achiever of the Year’ at the Constructing Excellence Awards in Birmingham.

The award recognises his significant contribution to the construction industry and, in particular, the Constructing Excellence movement.

He has chaired the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Constructing Excellence Club (HAWCE) for over 15 years. HAWCE is regarded as one of the most active and successful clubs in the UK, hosting more than 10 events a year. These range from educational talks on topical matters such as the Building Safety Act and AI to site visits to exemplar projects and industry networking events. All are designed to improve the industry and bring people and disciplines together in what can often be a fragmented sector.

Andrew was nominated for the award by his peers on the HAWCE committee, who range from contractors to consultants, in recognition of his hard work for both the club and the wider industry.

In addition to his commitment to HAWCE, Andrew was recognised for his wider contributions, including serving as a committee member of the Technology and Construction Solicitors Association (TECSA) for over 10 years, where he also chaired the Adjudication Committee. In this role, he devised and implemented the first adjudication scheme for low-value disputes (under £100,000), making adjudication more accessible for parties seeking to resolve payment disputes.

Andrew led HCR Law’s Construction and Engineering and Planning teams until 2020 and also served on the management committee.

Reflecting on his award, Andrew said: “I was delighted to receive this award and to be recognised by my peers in the Constructing Excellence movement in particular. Having been involved in construction law since 1988, I thought it was important to put something back into the industry. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as Chairman of HAWCE and have learnt a great deal from colleagues across different disciplines, as well as making good friends along the way.

“I would definitely encourage people to get involved in their local Constructing Excellence club to further their understanding of the industry, learn about the latest topics and get to know new people involved in the industry we admire so much.”