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The Novus Big Five, our flagship charity project, has been shortlisted in the National Building Awards, the annual celebration of the best of the construction industry.

The Big Five campaign is one of four finalists in the community engagement category, with the winner due to be announced at an awards ceremony in May. For the initiative, we canvased nominations for worthy projects in five locations across the UK to each receive a £20,000 investment.

The renovation projects that were chosen by our own team of judges included:

Home refurbishment

The conversion of a derelict two-bedroom house in Leeds into a modern property for a vulnerable person on behalf of Latch (Leeds Action to Create Homes). The charity reduces homelessness in the city by providing supported housing for those ready to make a positive change.

Maternity ward refurbishment

Refurbishments at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton created a new bereavement suite for parents who have sadly lost a child during birth for charities Abigail’s Footsteps and Oscar’s Wish. The work included the creation of an apartment at the hospital.

Dudley Community Centre Refurbishment

Refurbishment of a community centre in a primary school in Dudley, near Birmingham, resulted in the opening of a new learning hub for parents and children. The space now helps new parents and offers facilities for health checks as well as and a childcare centre during the summer holidays.

Livingstone Community Centre Refurbishment

Refurbishments at a community centre in Livingstone, Scotland, which provides courses and workshops for young people. The work included kitchen replacement and refurbishment and is designed to help provide young people with new skills while also acting as a distribution centre for food deliveries to people in need in the area.

Rehabilitation Centre Refurbishment

Refurbishments at a rehabilitation centre in Liverpool created a new office for Tom Harrison House – a charity that helps military veterans suffering from addiction. The new fully-heated garden office is used as a counselling room and will be used as part of the charity’s 12-week recovery programme.

The resounding success of the project in supporting our corporate social responsibility (CSR), where our mission is to change the lives of people in communities where we work, and engaging with the community led to the shortlisting. It supports our view that our CSR initiatives are some of the best, most engaging and transformative in the sector.

The National Building Awards programme aims to raise the profile of industrious, hardworking and enterprising building and construction businesses across the country.

You can find out more about our CSR approach, here.