Chairman of the ODA receives knighthood while others honoured with OBEs and MBEs

Several leading lights of the construction sector have been honoured in the New Year honours list.

John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), received a knighthood for his services to the construction industry.

He said: “I am especially proud of what the industry has achieved in building the Olympic park. That we have been able to keep this project on time and within budget is down to the hard work of the ODA team, our delivery partner and other organisations involved in the delivery of the games.

“None of this would have been possible without the knowledge and expertise of the engineering and construction team - from workforce to management,” he added.

Armitt’s former colleague Howard Shiplee, ex-director of construction at the ODA, was also honoured with an OBE.

Other notable figures honoured included architect John McAslan and Mitie chief executive Ruby McGregor-Smith, who both received CBEs, and James Wates, deputy chairman of contractor Wates, who received an CBE.

Wates’ honour sparked controversy because his family’s companies have given around £175,000 to the Conservative Party between 2001 and 2010. Wates was one of four major Tory donors to be included on the honours list.

This led Michael Dugher, shadow cabinet office minister, to tell the Sunday Times the honours were “not so much [about] big society as big donors”.

Other construction figures receiving OBEs included Thomas Foulkes, former director general of the Institute of Civil Engineers, for his services to engineering; Neil Bruce, chief executive of consultant Amec for his services to engineering and Graham Manly, business development director of building services firm Gratte Brothers, for his work in the sector.

Those receiving MBEs included David Harris, divisional managing director at contractor Cowlin Construction, for services to education and training in the construction industry; Mark Bew, board director at consultant URS Scott Wilson (Worldwide), for services to the construction sector and Faith Wainwright, director at Arup, for services to the built environment and engineering professions.

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