Ray Hutchinson, Managing Director of leading construction and fit-out company, Gilbert-Ash has been shortlisted for CEO of the Year at the prestigious Building Awards, recognising his outstanding leadership and contribution to the built environment.
He is included amongst an outstanding shortlist which includes Paul Brown from Sisk, David Cadiot of Bovis, Grainger’s Helen Gordon and Eoghan O'Lionaird from Wates Group.
Ray Hutchinson has led Gilbert-Ash since 2012, having initially joined the company as Financial Director in 2003.
During his tenure, he has overseen a period of sustained growth and diversification, transforming the business into one of the UK and Ireland’s leading contractors across several sectors including arts and culture, hospitality, education and workplace.
With offices in Belfast, London and Dublin, the company’s employee base has grown to 190 people. A strong advocate for people and culture, Ray led Gilbert-Ash’s transition to an Employee Ownership Trust, placing the company’s future success in the hands of its employees.
Under his leadership, the business has been named among the Sunday Times Best Places to Work for two consecutive years, with 92% of staff reporting that they are proud to work for Gilbert-Ash and 90% saying they would recommend the company to friends and family.
Ray continues to champion diversity and inclusion, with women now accounting for 23% of Gilbert-Ash’s workforce, higher than the construction industry average.
His commitment to the wider construction industry has been equally significant. A former President and current Council member of the Construction Employers Federation, Ray is a board member of Construction Futures and works closely with organisations including Women in Business NI and WOMEN’STEC.
Lynn Carville, CEO of WOMEN’STEC said Ray is a worthy finalist for such a prestigious award.
She said: “Ray understands that the success of a good business is not simply measured in finances, but also how it supports others in our society.
“Under his leadership, Gilbert-Ash delivers outstanding work for its clients and is a company where people are proud to work.
“Ray has also been a firm advocate for diversity in the workplace and his work with WOMEN’STEC has helped us make significant advancements in providing training for women in non-traditional skills.
“Most recently, he has taken a leading role in mobilising Northern Ireland’s construction sector to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, misogyny and harassment, sponsoring an industry conference focused on tackling violence against women and girls.”
Ray was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to the construction industry and diversity and inclusion and was also named Construction Leader of the Year at the Construction News Awards that year.
Over the past year, Ray has driven further expansion in the Republic of Ireland, establishing a new office in Dublin city centre, where they completed a citizenM hotel – the hotel brand’s first project in Ireland.
His leadership has also seen Gilbert-Ash establish itself as a contractor of choice for architecturally significant projects. Its portfolio includes the Royal College of Music, RIBA HQ, Theatr Clwyd and Tate Liverpool.
Gilbert-Ash’s projects have been shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize five times. These include the Lyric Theatre in 2012, the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre in 2013, Cambridge Central Mosque in 2021, the National Portrait Gallery in 2024, with the Everyman Theatre winning the coveted award in 2014.
The winners of the Building Awards will be announced at a ceremony in London in November.