Michael Hardware

Michael Hardware joined Chelgate in 1994 and has almost 40 years’ experience working in the construction, development, energy, technology and local government sectors. He heads Chelgate’s corporate practice which includes Chelgate Local and Chelgate Built Environment.

Michael has worked on some interesting projects over the years included orchestrating UK NetYear, a successful government-backed industry campaign in the late 90s to get schools to use the internet for education; Work Wise UK, a TUC and CBI backed programme to encourage flexible working, working from home and working remotely; navigating business and consumer market deregulation with British Gas; the promotion of CNG and LPG as alternative road fuels; the design and construction of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial in Hyde Park for The Royal Parks, and; the remodeling of Trafalgar Square, making it more accessible and a better destination, for Transport for London and the Greater London Authority.

Michael is also a serving county and district councilor. He has held a variety of cabinet posts including finance, strategic growth & regeneration, planning, economic development, arts heritage & culture, and health & adult social care. He has led a post-Covid county property review task force, served on a garden town board for five years and the UK Innovation Corridor board.

Michael is also the immediate past president of the Chartered Institute of Journalists and has been a member of the International Building Press for almost 40 years. He chairs the board of a multi-academy trust in Essex and is a former governor of Harlow College.

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