Coming of age

It's highly appropriate, in our view, to award the occasional lifetime achievement prize this year to Sir Michael Latham, whose seminal report on industry reform was published exactly 10 years ago – just as we were launching the Building Awards (page 7).

In 1994, construction was still struggling to escape its worst recession for 60 years, many of its methods were antiquated, its self-esteem was rock bottom, and its political influence was negligible. Now look at it. The industry enjoyed its biggest rise in activity for more than 10 years in the first quarter of 2004, according to the RICS, and the quality of manufacturing, design and construction is unrecognisable from that of the early 1990s. Anyone who needs convincing should simply peruse the achievements of those shortlisted for the 2004 Building Awards, outlined in this supplement. Unquestionably, the industry now possesses some supremely confident, world-class performers.

This supplement also illustrates the transformation in the industry's political influence over the past decade. Gone is the cheesy photograph of trade body luminaries outside Number 10. Now we have Gordon Brown's new Construction Industry Policy and European Regulation group to sit alongside the strategic forum. Construction minister Nigel Griffiths was booked in to attend our ceremony and present tonight's best practice award – one of the legacies, incidentally, of the Latham review.

And you can't fail to notice who's written the foreword – Tony Blair himself (page 9). He is writing in support of our excellent charity, CITY, but it's also worth noting his comment that the "exceptionally high standard of entries help to ensure the continuing, major contribution of your industry to the UK". Praise indeed.

This supplement is principally dedicated to the winners of the 2004 Building Awards. But we could not let our 10th anniversary pass without paying tribute to the 150-plus firms who have triumphed over the past decade – especially six-time winners Davis Langdon and Travis Perkins – as well as all our partners, without whom we would never have reached this milestone. Turn to pages 13-16 for the hall of fame. And thank you to all those whose names are listed on pages 18-19, especially our most loyal supporters, such as British Gypsum, Hays Montrose, Schüco and Wavin. Here's to the next 10 years.