Member Article

Barratt Homes Prize awarded to Southampton Solent University

A Southampton Solent University student has been awarded a prize by leading housebuilder Barratt thanks to showing such promise and dedication during his studies.

Pawel Dudkiewicz was given the Barratt Homes Prize and a £100 gift certificate in recognition of his outstanding dedication to developing a successful career in construction management.

Anthony Dimmick, the community liaison manager for Barratt, spent time with Pawel as part of the presentations and workshops that he regularly holds with construction students. “I really enjoy working with students who are just taking their first steps of a career in construction, and I was impressed with Pawel from our first meeting.

“He was absolutely certain of his ambition to work as a site manager and always went that extra mile both in his studies, and making sure that the skills he learned in class he applied on site while at work.”

John Barfoot, who leads the Construction Management course at Southampton Solent University, said, “It’s fantastic to see Pawel doing so well now he has finished his qualification, and I was delighted to hear that he’d been chosen for the award. He is a very deserving candidate, and someone who will no doubt have a very successful career.”

Pawel started working as a labourer a few years ago, but quickly found he wanted to gain more varied skills. Unsure of how to move into a specialism, he approached colleagues on site and spent time learned from their experience, using their equipment before he purchased his own tools.

Pawel’s employers, Drew Smith Group, agreed to support him as he undertook a two year HNC course in Construction Management, and he is now working as an assistant site manager at a development in Andover.

He said, “I’m really pleased to have received this award, and it’s been the icing on the cake after finishing my course and now working full time on site. I’ve had so much support in my career so far, and I know construction is definitely the right choice for me.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Liz Pusey .