As a Founder Partner of construction consultancy Focus Consultants, Kevin Osbon MBE has had a remarkable career. As a pioneer in the construction industry and champion of social-value-orientated approaches and sustainability, it is little surprise Kevin has been named in the Top 100 Influential People 2026 Awards – for the second year running.
Kevin’s contribution has also been recognised by His Majesty the King. In 2026 he was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours for services to the economy and regeneration in the East Midlands.
Kevin has grown Focus Consultants from the dining room of his then home in Beeston, Nottingham, to a company delivering £4.75 billion in cultural projects, securing over £1 billion in grant funding for communities and supporting 18,000 jobs.
Reacting to his Top 100 win, Kevin said he felt “very proud”, particularly given that the construction sector is often overlooked in awards that celebrate influential leaders:
“The construction industry tends to be under-represented in terms of awards against other industries, many of which are seen as more appealing than the property and construction sector.”
Kevin said the Top 100 has also had a tangible impact on his business profile, helping demonstrate that small and medium-sized enterprises can still lead the industry:
“The business benefits included being able to put forward these awards to demonstrate that even though my businesses are categorised as SMEs we are still industry leaders. Our work on topics such as how to deliver social value outputs has been published for all to see and this has helped with recognition.”
He added that an accolade of this kind is particularly valuable when competing for opportunities:
“As a business we have to tender for massive Government frameworks and major programmes and projects and these awards demonstrate that we are at the forefront of thinking and are not just representing ourselves but trying to help the industry as a whole.”
Further to his work with Focus Consultants, Kevin is focused on supporting other organisations as a chairperson and investor, while continuing to champion collaboration between academia, the public sector and the voluntary sector. He works closely on themes such as placemaking, sustainability and social value.
Reflecting on his career evolution, Kevin said:
“Eight years ago, I never thought that I’d be a recognised published author, a public speaker and acclaimed as an industry leader in all things construction and regeneration.”
Receiving the MBE and winning the Top 100 for the second year in a row has also furthered Kevin’s ambition to raise the profile of his sector so that it is seen as a great place to work and a natural career destination, and to help it tackle daunting obstacles:
“The construction industry is facing huge challenges such as skill shortages, work flow issues, materials shortages, market and political volatility, a global debate on sustainability and integrating technology, as well as many more serious matters. Put simply, we need more construction people acting for the good of the whole industry and as I move into the twilight of my career in my sixties I find myself in the position where I am able and willing to help and give back to the industry.”