Member Article

Roofing apprentice builds on success with awards

A 25 year old roofing apprentice from Scarborough who works for JW Joinery Ltd has been named as Leeds College of Building’s ‘Student of the Year’.

Gary McGeown was presented with the coveted Governors’ Student of the Year Award by guest speaker Peter Duffy at the annual prize giving ceremony, which took place in front of more than 300 people at Leeds Town Hall. He also won two further awards on the night - the Roof Tiling Apprentice of the Year Award and the Construction Crafts Faculty Award for special achievement.

The day before, Gary also received a commendation at the finals of the Young Builder of the Year Awards, which are organised by Youthbuild UK and held at the House of Commons. Gary, who has just finished a three year NVQ Level 3 Diploma at Leeds College of Building says: “It’s been a really exciting time for me having been nominated for so many awards. The trip to London and the College Awards ceremony were both huge events that I will always remember. I feel very proud to have been selected for the awards and grateful to all of the lecturers and support staff at Leeds College of Building and CITB for their unwavering belief in me.”

Gary was nominated for the Roof Tiling Apprentice of the Year Award by his tutor Chris Messenger. Chris says: “Gary has been through a lot having recently lost his brother in a tragic accident. I tutored his brother back in 2007 and it’s been a devastating loss, particularly for Gary, who was studying his Level 2 and working for his brother at the time.”

“Gary has been a model student from the start; he travels a long way to College and has an excellent work ethic and skill set. He’s competed to a very high level in SkillBuild twice, and has submitted outstanding coursework despite having to overcome a great level of personal adversity during his studies.”

“He has since found employment with JW Joinery Ltd and as part of an ongoing relationship between the College and a roofing firm in Sydney, Gary will be travelling to Australia on a six month work placement.”

A total of 49 awards were presented on the night on behalf of the Faculty of Construction Crafts and the Faculty of Higher Education, Construction Design and Management as well as national competition winners who were all recognised for their outstanding achievements.

The six national competition award winners recognised were Ameha Shewaye Bantiwered who won Silver in the WorldSkills UK Final in Plastering, Riley O’Sullivan who won Bronze in the WorldSkills UK Final in Roofing Slating & Tiling and Aaron Hilton who was Highly Commended in the WorldSkills UK Final in Wall & Floor Tiling. Christopher Powell, who took second place in the NICEIC and ELECSA Apprentice of the Year Awards, Liam Archer who was named Outstanding BTEC Higher National Student of the Year and Samuel O’Sullivan who was named Outstanding BTEC Apprentice of the Year (19 and over category) were also rewarded for their achievements.

The platinum sponsor for the event was The Civil Engineering Contractors Association. Leeds College of Building’s Principal Mr Ian Billyard says: “The senior awarding judges and I cannot think of a more deserving winner than Gary. He works so hard, has an excellent level of skill and has shown a real dedication to his studies and his trade. It was a delight to see him recognised in this way in front of so many people, and I am confident he has an extremely successful career ahead of him.”

“It is a credit to all of the staff at Leeds College of Building that we have so many nationally recognised students, who are really amongst the very best construction professionals in the country. Their talent, determination and commitment to the industry is a pleasure to see, and I am personally very proud that we continually produce such a high calibre of students who will play a large part in the future of the construction industry.”

For more information about the College and its courses visit www.lcb.ac.uk or call 0113 222 6000.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Mortimer .