The head of sustainable development at Willmott Dixon, which has its South West regional headquarters in Bristol, has been judged the country’s top ‘Green Guru’.
George Martin won the contractor category accolade in this year’s Green Guru Awards, organised by the leading trade title, Building magazine. The competition is designed to recognise the people making the biggest difference in driving forward the green agenda and awards are presented in six categories. As well as the contractor section these include: architect; client; engineer; manufacturer; and thinker.
George Martin was voted in to the top spot through an on line poll which attracted many hundreds of participants. His long track-record in the sector includes numerous environmental achievements. George was the first director of environment at Tarmac. He later worked with Jonathon Porritt at Forum for the Future, helping build sustainable development strategies with blue-chip companies.
George then moved to the Building Research Establishment to assist in the development of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the establishment of the UK Green Building Council – on whose advisory board he sits – and the Sustainable Development Foundation, which he chairs on a voluntary basis. Since joining Willmott Dixon (where Jonathon Porritt is a Board member) in 2006, he has helped pioneer a new strategic vision on the built environment, which won the company third place in the 2009 Sunday Times Green List – the highest position for any construction contractor.
George Martin has also played a key role in industry initiatives as a member of Sir Martin Laing’s Sustainability Forum, the ASC (Academy for Sustainable Communities) Advisory Board, the Task Force on Sustainable Procurement, the Task Force on the Code for Sustainable Buildings and the Zero Carbon Task Force.
