Local leadership recognised as city gears up for greener public transport
Adrian Pollock, operations director (Civils) at Belfast construction and civil engineering firm McLaughlin & Harvey, has been named Outstanding Contributor at the 2026 Northern Ireland Construction Awards. The accolade, presented by the Construction Employers Federation (CEF), highlights his role on major schemes around the region and his efforts to embed low‑carbon solutions into transport infrastructure.
The award acknowledges Pollock’s involvement in a range of high‑profile works across Northern Ireland. These include restoration work at the Gobbins Cliff Path and a number of projects delivered in partnership with Translink, the public transport operator that serves Belfast and the wider region. As McLaughlin & Harvey’s principal contact for Translink, Pollock has been central to securing the company’s place on Translink’s FW122 Permanent Way Major Projects Framework, a contract vehicle that will shape capital and maintenance projects for the next five years.
“I’m honoured to have received the Outstanding Contributor award. In nearly two decades at McLaughlin & Harvey, I’ve had the privilege of working on some of our biggest civil engineering projects across Northern Ireland, building strong relationships with our clients and supply chain partners while helping support a greener transport network.”
WorkSpace, a specialist division within McLaughlin & Harvey, was also shortlisted at the awards for Infrastructure Project of the Year for its role in Translink’s Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Infrastructure Programme. The project covers the installation of electric bus charging systems across five major transport depots and represents a significant investment in sustainable public transport infrastructure for Northern Ireland.
- Local jobs and skills: the firm’s continuing involvement with Translink and large civil schemes sustains employment and supply‑chain work in Belfast and surrounding areas.
- Transport decarbonisation: the BEV infrastructure supports Translink’s shift towards zero‑emission buses, with depot charging a vital component.
- Longer‑term maintenance: position on the FW122 framework means McLaughlin & Harvey will be involved in planning and delivery of rail and permanent way works over the next five years.
What this means for Belfast and the region
The recognition comes at a time when Belfast’s transport network is under sustained pressure to modernise. Investment in electric vehicle charging for buses is a practical step towards reducing emissions from public transport, but it relies on coordination between operators, contractors and power networks. The award underlines the role that local contractors can play in delivering technical capability and project management for those upgrades.
Securing a place on Translink’s major projects framework is especially important. Frameworks like FW122 streamline procurement for repeated or multi‑site works, offering a predictable pipeline of capital and maintenance schemes that can support apprenticeships, specialist contractors and local suppliers.
| Project | McLaughlin & Harvey role |
|---|---|
| Translink permanent way and depot works | Main contact, framework contractor |
| Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Infrastructure Programme | Installation of electric bus charging systems (WorkSpace division) |
| Gobbins Cliff Path restoration | Civil engineering delivery |
CEF‑organised awards are intended to showcase partnerships and innovation across the construction sector; the shortlist and winners reflect a mix of public‑sector clients, regional contractors and specialist teams. For Belfast residents the prizes may seem ceremonial, but the projects behind them underpin day‑to‑day services and longer‑term ambitions for cleaner, more resilient transport.
Translink has previously outlined ambitions to decarbonise its bus fleet and move to zero‑emission operations over time. While the award announcement does not alter policy, it highlights one local contractor’s contribution to that transition and signals continuity of delivery as major infrastructure works begin or continue across Northern Ireland.
Those following developments in the city’s infrastructure and jobs markets will watch how frameworks such as FW122 translate into on‑the‑ground work — and whether the shift to electric bus operations speeds up once depot charging is in place across the network.
