Winner: Richard Chambers, Managing Director, AG Wilson

Background

Under the leadership of Managing Director Richard Chambers, responsible business has been embedded into the core of the organisation’s strategy and operations, ensuring that considerations for people, planet and place are treated as integral to long-term business success rather than standalone initiatives.

The company has adopted a culture where safety, wellbeing, environmental performance and community impact sit alongside commercial performance in decision-making. Through partnerships with organisations including Business in the Community NI and sector bodies, AG Wilson continues to demonstrate how a civil engineering business can deliver sustainable growth while creating positive outcomes for employees, communities and the wider industry.

What Richard Did

As Managing Director, Richard Chambers has personally championed responsible business leadership throughout AG Wilson, ensuring responsibility for people, planet and place is visibly driven from board level and reflected in day-to-day behaviours across the organisation. He has embedded responsible business principles into operational decision-making, creating a culture where wellbeing, inclusion, environmental responsibility and community impact are considered alongside programme delivery, cost and risk management.

Richard has led significant investment in workforce wellbeing and safety culture, including supporting Mental Health First Aiders, developing an open and supportive workplace environment, and promoting wellbeing as a critical business performance indicator. He has also championed environmental improvements through the adoption of carbon tracking tools, participation in biodiversity initiatives and the signing of the BITCNI Climate Action Pledge, ensuring environmental commitments are backed by measurable actions and investment.

Beyond AG Wilson, Richard has acted as an ambassador for responsible business across the wider sector. Through engagement with clients, public-sector partners, Business in the Community NI and the Construction Employers Federation, he has shared best practice on safety leadership, workforce wellbeing and sustainable delivery. He has also supported local communities through engagement with schools, charities and grassroots sports organisations and personally helped inspire future talent by delivering mock interviews to students considering careers in construction.

Key Impacts and outcomes for AG Wilson

• Increased employee wellbeing scores by 22%, demonstrating a measurable improvement in workforce wellbeing.
• Reduced sickness absence rates while strengthening the connection between wellbeing and operational performance.
• Maintained health and safety performance consistently below industry benchmark levels, supporting safer project delivery.
• Introduced carbon tracking and climate action measures, including signing the BITCNI Climate Action Pledge, helping improve environmental performance and accountability.
• Strengthened relationships with public-sector clients and partners by promoting responsible business as a driver of trust, resilience and delivery performance.
• Shared responsible business best practice across the construction sector through Construction Employers Federation engagement, client presentations and industry forums.
• Supported local communities and future talent development through school engagement, mock interviews and ongoing support for community and grassroots organisations.

What the judges said:

“Richard is a strong and compelling example of strategic leadership in action. He clearly demonstrates that responsible business is not a bolt on but embedded at the heart of commercial decision-making. His visible, values-led approach balancing people, planet and performance set a powerful tone from the top and translates into tangible impact across wellbeing, safety, environmental progress and community engagement.”