Top builders Anwyl Construction will fly the flag for Wales at a major UK building awards ceremony in London later this year.

The Rhyl-based firm have been short-listed by Housebuilder magazine, the UK’s best read building publication, in the Best Community Initiative category of the awards.

These are now in their tenth year and will take place at a glittering occasion at the Tower Hotel in London with a celebrity presenter – comic impressionist Jon Culshaw did the honours at last year’s event.

Anwyl Construction are the only Wales-based company to make the shortlist in any category. The companies shortlisted for the awards are a “who’s who” of the British construction industry, from Taylor Wimpey and Barratt to Redrow, while projects include the London Olympics Athletes Village and the Royal Arsenal Riverside regeneration.

Anwyl have been nominated for the £15-million 147-home scheme they are building in Wrexham for leading social housing organisation Wales & West Housing on two sites in the town, Kingsmills Road and Rivulet Road.

Their work there has led to one new sub-contracting business starting up and provided 18 work experience posts. The company also held two Meet The Contractor events, which led to two-thirds of the sub-contractors and over 70 per cent of the workforce coming from within 25 miles of Wrexham.

They also arranged a series of visits to four local schools, organised an art competition based on site safety and installed new play equipment.

Anwyl’s nomination is in recognition of their positive impact in a range of areas, including training and employment, supply chain, education and community initiatives.

Anwyl Construction Director Tom Anwyl said: “We are delighted to have been short-listed for this major award and proud to be representing the Welsh construction industry.

“As a North Wales-based company we recognise the importance of ensuring that the local economy benefits from major projects like the Kingsmills and Rivulet Road sites.

“We have a long-standing commitment to apprenticeships and are very proud of the fact that 20% of our own 150-strong workforce began their careers with us as apprentices.

“One of the criteria we used to select sub-contractors for this project was that they should share our commitment to giving a start in the construction industry to young people.

“We have worked hard with them and with the local further education college and local organisations to help them make the most of these opportunities.”

Anwyl estimate that 70 per cent of the £15 million cost of the developments at Rivulet Road and Kingsmills Road will go on wages to an almost entirely North Wales-based workforce.

Tom Anwyl added: “It was always our intention to ensure that this major contract should bring benefits to the local area, and we’re delighted that this is happening.

“It was important to both Wales & West Housing and ourselves that this project would provide as many high quality training opportunities as possible, and also that it brings a real economic benefit to Wrexham and North East Wales.”

During the work, Anwyl have provided a Santa’s Grotto for the local community and built a new footpath and raised flower beds for a residential home, while over 80 per cent of the site’s waste has been recycled.

Councillor Mark Pritchard, Wrexham Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Planning, said: “I am delighted that this project is not only providing much needed homes for local residents, but also providing work opportunities for local people.”

The twin developments for Wales & West Housing, working in partnership with Wrexham County Borough Council, are due to be completed later this year. Rivulet Road will see 35 houses and apartments built, as well as a five-storey block of 20 apartments, while a further 92 homes will be developed at Kingsmills Road. The project also includes a new Community Resource Centre and Medical Facility.

Craig Sparrow, Development Manager North for Wales & West Housing, said: “One of the key aspects of our bid to develop this project in Wrexham was to contribute to training apprenticeships and tap into local supply chains and labour.

“Anwyl Construction have been very proactive in working with us to provide training apprenticeships on these sites and progress is going well. There’s a lot of activity now and more and more trades are being involved every week.”