It was an inspiring evening recognising emerging young talent in construction and design. Including our very own placement student, Laura Mills, who was shortlisted earlier this year for the Young Architect/Design Professional of the Year Award.
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We are so proud of the recognition Laura has received for her hard work, ideas and positive attitude displayed during her time with us at Powell Design & Construction this past year.

The calibre of all the young professionals recognised that evening was really inspiring and heart-warming to see. These aren't just 'promising youngsters' - they're already contributing real innovation and value to their firms, schools and industries.

Changing the Conversation

The awards highlighted something important: being brilliant at your job isn't about having years of experience under your belt.

Laura brought fresh perspectives to our projects, asked great questions, and approached problems without a fresh vision and perspective.

During her placement year, she contributed to major projects, challenged our thinking, and brought energy that lifts the entire team. She's proof that emerging talent doesn't need decades of experience to make a real impact.

An Industry Coming Together

The evening showcased young talent across every discipline - architects, engineers, project managers, sustainability specialists. Each finalist represented not just individual achievement but the companies investing in their development too.

The atmosphere was lovely. No sense of competition between firms, just shared pride in nurturing the next generation.

Every young professional recognised at the awards represents a company that took a chance, invested time, and provided real opportunities. Laura's success has inspired us to expand our own training initiatives through The Powell Academy next year.

Why This Matters Right Now

Our industry faces real challenges. Skills shortages, an ageing workforce, and the need for rapid innovation around sustainability. The young professionals celebrated at these awards aren't just our future, they're essential to solving today's problems.

They bring digital fluency, fresh thinking on sustainability, and diverse perspectives we desperately need. They push us to explain why we do things certain ways and to consider new approaches.

A Thank You

To the Building the Future Awards organisers: thank you for recognising that emerging talent deserves celebration. To all the finalists and winners: keep pushing boundaries and bringing your perspectives to our industry.

And to Laura: thank you for reminding us why investing in emerging talent isn't just worthwhile - it's essential.