AS MANY as 55 students at York College have been hailed as Tomorrow’s Professionals Today.

That was the theme of the York College Construction Awards ceremony in which the students were honoured for achieving excellence in their respective fields; carpentry and joinery, brickwork, stonemasonry, professional and technical studies, electrical, painting and decorating and plumbing.

The theme, which recognised them as the future professionals in the construction industry, was reinforced by the region’s employers, who sponsored the individual awards.

The event began with a formal welcome by the principal of York College, Dr Alison Birkinshaw, followed by the presentation of individual awards by Dr Professor Stuart Billingham, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Quality and the Student Experience) at York St John University.

Kevin Clancy, head of division for Construction Crafts at York College said: “The forecasted growth in construction as the economy comes out of recession will mean huge job opportunities for people with the right skills.

“This awards ceremony provides an opportunity to celebrate outstanding work by students and trainees and it is gratifying to know that they will make a huge difference to the future economy of this country. These students will now progress through to higher levels of education and employment.” York College, which opened a £60 million state-of-the-art new site in September 2007, is now a major provider of education and training in the region, with 3,500 full-time students and 9,000 part-time.

It also provides education and training to 3,000 employers across the region.


Construction award winners in full

Carpentry and Joinery: Dominic Wasden - The National Federation of Builders (BEC) Shield; Eddie Falkingham – The Houghtons of York Craftsmanship Award; Natalie Taylor – The Portakabin Award; Oliver Shipley – The Clive Walker Shield; Jonathon Elsegood – The Shepherd Craft Award; Craig Melody & Christopher Brain – The Persimmon Homes Award.

Brickwork: Mark Taylor – The National Federation of Builders (BEC) Shield; Jack Small – The J P Birch Prize; Matthew Wright – The Cameo Junior Award; Simon Hewison – The Travis Perkins Cup; Ben Wardell – The Cameo Senior Award; Jonathon Brown – The Shepherd Craft Award; Michael Knight – York Brick Company Award.

Stonemasonry: James Stone – The Marazion Trophy; Richard Coatsworth – Linford-Bridgeman Ltd Award; Lee Wilkinson – City & Guilds Trophy; Nick Bragg – The Peter Moore Masonry Award; Steve Spence – Persimmon Homes Award; David Hughes – Classic Masonry Ltd Award; Michael Bird – Historic Property Restoration Ltd Award; Matthew Jenks – York College Tutors Award; Joseph Hayton – The Masonic Province of Yorkshire North & East Ridings Craft Lodges & Royal Arch Chapters.

Painting and Decorating: Kevin Young – The National Federation of Builders (BEC) Trophy; Waranyu Sangthong – The Alfred Bagnall Trophy; Thomas Fowler – The Painting and Decorating Association Shield; Steve Rawlins – The Painting and Decorating Association Award.

Plumbing: Jonathon Bennett – York & District Master Plumber Association Award (Level 2); Alistair Ward – York & District Master Plumber Association Award (Level 3); Matthew Bagley – The Plumb Center Award; Stuart Hooton – The J H Shouksmith & Sons Ltd Prize; Christopher Elliott – Jay De-Martine Memorial Award; Owen Bygrave – York College Tutor Award; Matthew Kay – The Watermark Award.

Electrical: Andrew Deighton – The City Electrical Factors Award; Philip Fletcher – The Electrical Tutors Award; Stuart Robinson - The Electrical Level 2 Award; James Sherwood – The Portasilo Electrical Level 3 Award; Louis Randall-Pringle – The Electrical Full-Time Student Award.

Professional and Technician Prizes: Rebecca Watts – The National Federation of Builders (BEC) Trophy; Erica Turner – The Chartered Institute of Building Shield; Nick Jauncey – The Purcell Miller Tritton Award; Jonathon Coventry – The Shepherd Trophy; Sam Boler – The Shepherd Shield; Daniel Chalk – The Hogg The Builder Trophy; Andrew Hinchliffe – The LHL Group Building Surveyors Prize; Darren Mears – The Federation of Master Builders Award; Tom Hornsey – The Norman Lilley Memorial Trust Cup; Jessica Gibson – The Tom Rhodes & Sons Prize; Steve Gardham – The Arktech Surveying Prize; Jason Dayes – The PGT Award; Graeme Strickland – Riccall Regen Achievement Award.

Medals For Excellence by York Guild of Builders: Jack Woolgar – Carpentry & Joinery (Level 2) Bronze Medal for Excellence; Alex Williams – Stonemasonry (Level 3) Silver Medal for Excellence; Nick Bragg – York Consortium for Conservation and Craftsmanship.