24. Glenn Howells, Glen Howells Architects

Glenn Howells opened his architects practice in Birmingham in 1992 - two years after founding his business in London.

His first big break was being appointed architect for the Custard Factory by developer Bennie Gray. The Custard Factory has gone to become an award-winning example of affordable office development, aimed at small arts and design businesses, such as the Maverick TV production company.

This was followed by the Market Place in Armagh, Northern Ireland. This elegant arts centre won numerous design awards, including an RIBA regional award.

Notable projects since then include Timber Wharf and Burton Place for innovative developers - and Fort Dunlop owner - Urban Splash in Manchester. In Birmingham, Urban Splash and Glenn Howells collaborated to design a residential refurbishment of The Rotunda.

In October 2006, Glenn Howells was appointed to design Ballymore's 43-storey hotel and residential scheme in Snowhill.

Now under construction, the development consists of the tallest hotel building and tallest residential building in Birmingham.

In early 2007, Glenn Howells was reported in The Birmingham Post as advocating a new modern art gallery for Birmingham, to add to the existing Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and Ikon Gallery.

He has also designed the landmark Eleven Brindleyplace, a 13-storey scheme that dominates the entrance to Brindleyplace with its striking exterior of stone panelling and anodised aluminium.

Southside, which he has also designed, is a mixed-use project for Crosby Homes which has transformed an empty site in the city centre and formed an important link between the Bullring shopping centre, via the city's theatre district and the new residential developments in Edgbaston to the west. The practice is also working on the Icknield Port Loop project in Birmingham, which will help with the regeneration of the city's north-west.

Other schemes include public projects such as Moor Street Station cafe bar, the Dream Factory in Warwick and Artrix in Bromsgrove.

In addition there are schools schemes in Solihull and Halesowen plus One Queen's Drive, Bullring Link - the conversion of the Wades furniture store.