Construction Youth Trust rewards the next generation of professionals

Duke of Gloucester’s Young Achievers Scheme celebrates of “the future of the industry” as winners revealed.

Antony Oliver
20 March 2015

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Thirty six young professional from across the UK construction industry were applauded this week by the Duke of Gloucester as he announced the 2015 Construction Youth Trust Young Achievers Scheme Awards.

The overall winner on the night was Dylan Shankland of North Ayreshire Council who was commended for the way he had embraced his career and, despite set backs caused by injury, had pressed on to study towards a professional career in quantity surveying.

“They have all had to overcome barriers in their lives and it is wonderful to be able to recognise their achievements.” Duke of Gloucester

Shankland was joined by five other category winners on the night from a range of disciplines encompassing the design and delivery sectors of the industry.

“These young people have made a significant contribution to the industry and the progress they have made in their careers so far is to be admired,” said the Duke of Gloucester ahead of the awards.

“They have all had to overcome barriers in their lives and it is wonderful to be able to recognise their achievements,” he added.

The awards scheme is now in its fourth year and looks to identify and celebrate young people under 30 years old who have not only achieved excellence in their careers so far, but who have had to overcome barriers and challenges to get to where they are.

The judges also look to reward candidates who actively promote careers in construction and the built environment to young people in their communities.

“This is a celebration of the future of the industry,” said Richard Threlfall, partner of lead sponsor KPMG.

To read an interview with Construction Youth Trust chief executive Christine Townley click here

“George Osborne said this week that voters would choose the future – well no; you choose the future because it really is in your hands,” he told the audience filled with young professionals.

“The future of our country is in your hand,” he added. “You are leading this industry to build more sustainably, more efficiently, more economically and innovatively. To build a country that people want to live in.”

Overall winner:

Dylan Shankland - North Ayrshire Council

Dylan is Shadow Contract Performance Supervisor for the Building Services of North Ayrshire Council and a student of Quantity Surveying at the Caledonian University in Glasgow. His proudest achievement is co-ordinating and delivering the new Housing Schedule of Rates, a project that led him to enhance his skills and experience in the sector. Starting as an apprentice plasterer he was led to pursue a career in surveying after an accident that restricted him to carry out manual labour.

He is proud of being part of the door step crime initiative, helping the police trace illegal contractors and he has offered his skills to the benefit of his community by helping in the renovation of a historical site.

The winners in each category were:

Construction Delivery

WINNER - Yasar Ugur - Berkeley Homes

Yasar is a Trainee Site Manager for Berkeley Homes in London. While at college Yasar found himself becoming depressed and fell into gangs. His confidence was at an all time low until his teacher recommended he become involved with an organisation called Street Elite. Through this scheme Yasar found an employment opportunity with Berkeley Homes. He has been able to learn a great deal on the job and courses his employer sends him on. He is extremely proud to have turned his life around. In his role he has had the opportunity to work with and advise has a young person interested in construction, and looks to be a role model for young people who come from difficult backgrounds who want to get in the industry.

Highly commended: Zoe Haigh - Hyder Consulting

Shortlisted

Zeshan Afzal - BAM Construction
James Birchall - AECOM
Thomas Hyland - Balfour Beatty
Grant Robson - GRAHAM Construction
Ashley Terron - Redrow Homes

Design

WINNER - Sarah Habershon - Hawkins Brown

Sarah is an Architectural Assistant at Hawkins Brown Architects from London. Sarah’s thesis project, [re]Working Bingley, was a college with associated public facilities and rentable accommodation. It sought to examine the opportunities available to 18 to 24 year olds and to suggest alternative educational routes. At university Sarah worked as a student ambassador on outreach programmes targeting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and involved workshops showcasing the studio environment, something which many students had never encountered before. She had the opportunity to speak at a workshop during the Higher Education Academy Conference 2013 concerning work of ambassadors who had been part of the programme before entering University and the benefits of this and worked on an intensive five day summer school with college students.

Highly Commended: Lucy Stephens - WRW Construction

Shortlist

Samuel Frith- Salem - Arup
Saira Hussain - Hussain Architectural Design
Guy Morgan – Cundall
Giulia Tomasello - Pell Frischmann
Elizabeth Ward - AECOM

Engineering

WINNER - Yvonne Murphy - Arup

Yvonne is a Civil Engineer for Arup based in Cardiff. A key highlight for Yvonne was managing the delivery of a flood risk management scheme for a small valley community in South Wales, protecting a local community and promoting sustainability. Yvonne is a dedicated volunteer ambassador promoting Civil Engineering outside of work and is a member of Engineers Without Borders Young Professionals Network, RedR, and Engineers for Overseas Development. She championed women in engineering as a Science Foundation Ireland Scholar in Ireland and as a voluntary University Mentor through the UCC ‘University-Link Peer Support’ programme. She is a member of the ICE and has been an active elected member on the ICE Wales’ Graduate and Students Group.

Highly Commended: Michael McClean - AECOM

Shortlisted:

Serban Berariu - WSP
Morgan Cain - Mouchel
Tim Cutter - Cundall
John Donaghy - AECOM
Nicola McClure - AECOM
Victoria Molina - AECOM

Project Management

Nazma Uddin - Rise Management Consultant

Nazma is a Consultant Project Manager at RISE Management Consulting. At 22, with no prior experience of project management or working on site, she successfully delivered a construction project, refurbishing an existing 450 pupil boys school to accommodate 900 girls in just six months.

She was also offered a place on the Mace Graduate Management Training Programme and was the only female graduate recruited that year. More recently Nazma has project managed the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion project which won an NLA award in 2013 and she is currently managing a £22m apart/hotel project on the Southbank.

Nazma is a member of the Conservation Area Design Review Panel for her local council and is also a volunteer on the sub-panel for the Whitechapel Area Panel, reviewing planning applications that the Planning Officers would like some guidance and assistance on.

Highly Commended: Nochum Dewhurst - Dewhurst Consulting

Shortlisted:

Louis Crosbie - VINCI Construction
Jelena Kiselova - BRE
Jaime Pedrosa - Rise Management Consultant
Elizabeth Sanderson - CH2M HILL
Katie Tarsey - Rise Management Consultant

Surveying

JOINT WINNER: Luke Brooker - EC Harris

Luke is a Project Manager at EC Harris in London. He only spent a few months at the organisation as an Assistant Project Manager before being promoted when his skills and ability to manage complex projects unaided was recognised. He is particularly proud of his current resident lead project for Camden Council, valued over £18m, which he is the project manager for.

Having struggled to work at the same rate as his peers at school his Dyslexia was not recognised. Whilst completing an electrical installation apprenticeship at college his tutor suggested he attend a Dyslexia screening and he was subsequently diagnosed, which Luke believes was a key turning point for him in his career.

He has since attended night school to achieve his A levels, which enabled Luke to study a Building Surveying Degree at Kingston University. Luke then completed a full time Master’s Degree, whilst working full-time for Kingston Council as a surveyor. In his spare time he is an adult volunteer for the Air Cadet Organisation, working with young people to develop their leadership, management and exposure to military and civilian life. He is also a member of the RICS London Matrics and has previously acted as the Sponsorship chairman.

JOINT WINNER: Dylan Shankland - North Ayrshire Council

Dylan is Shadow Contract Performance Supervisor for the Building Services of North Ayrshire Council and a student of Quantity Surveying at the Caledonian University in Glasgow. His proudest achievement is co-ordinating and delivering the new Housing Schedule of Rates, a project that led him to enhance his skills and experience in the sector. Starting as an apprentice plasterer he was led to pursue a career in surveying after an accident that restricted him to carry out manual labour.

He is proud of being part of the door step crime initiative, helping the police trace illegal contractors and he has offered his skills to the benefit of his community by helping in the renovation of a historical site.

Shortlisted: