HBL Associates has enjoyed double success in its industry’s leading national awards. The Manchester-based civil and structural engineering consultancy was not only shortlisted as one of New Civil Engineer magazine’s ‘Top 100’ consultants, but was also recognised in its ‘Trending 20’ category, which acknowledges up and coming firms of fewer than 200 staff.
NCE 100 is New Civil Engineer’s annual awards, recognising and celebrating the most innovative, impactful and inspirational firms operating in civil engineering. Submissions are scrutinised by a panel of over 50 judges, representing some of the industry’s leading clients and stakeholder groups, and scored alongside feedback from a detailed staff survey.
This was the first time HBL Associates has entered the awards and its place in the NCE 100 recognises the company’s technical excellence, application diversity and engineering impact across a broad range of private and public sector projects.
Now in its second year, NCE’s Trending 20 gives special recognition to the achievements of smaller firms, punching well above their weight in terms of ideas and innovation. Selected from all the SMEs that entered the main awards, by NCE’s expert editorial team, HBL was one of 13 companies included in the list for the first time.
HBL director, Henry Long, attended the awards ceremony at The Brewery in London, accompanied by associate directors, Andy Smith and Liam Massey. He commented: “I am immensely proud of the whole team’s efforts in achieving NCE 100 and Trending 20 recognition. These awards are the blue riband event for our industry and the panel of 52 judges are some of the sector’s most eminent engineers and leaders.
“Our company’s gradual expansion has significantly accelerated over the past couple of years, as we’ve moved into a broader range of vertical market sectors, and our inclusion as one of the Trending 20 SMEs confirms we are now very much one of the up and coming consultancies to watch.”