Member Article

Rising stars of civil engineering named by CECA South West

Three rising stars in civil engineering have received prestigious Young Achiever awards from the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) South West.

Peter Boden, who lives in Exeter, was named the south west’s most promising trainee civil engineer; Aiden Shipp, from Paignton, the most promising trainee quantity surveyor; and Sam Beer, from Exeter, the most promising apprentice. They were recognised for their success at a pre-lockdown COVID-secure event sponsored by BAM Nuttall.

Peter, aged 26, who works for Dyer and Butler in Exeter, received the accolade for his exceptional performance on key projects and for his career progression since joining the company.

He completed his MEng in Civil and Coastal Engineering with first-class honours at Plymouth University in 2018, during which time he also won a CECA industry placement award. He then joined Dyer and Butler and in just two years progressed from graduate engineer to site agent, working on major projects, including a £10m public realm scheme in Brighton. He has now added the top regional trainee civil engineer accolade to his CV.

Phil Ramsden, Regional Manager of Dyer and Butler, said: “Peter is the perfect role model for young aspiring civil engineers, with a very committed and mature approach to everything he does. He’s got all the makings of a great senior manager.”

Aiden, who works for Midas Construction in Exeter, won his award for his achievements over the last year and in particular his contribution to a helipad reconstruction at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, when he was called upon to complete the commercial management of the project.

James Bloomfield, from Midas Construction, praised Aiden’s commitment to his chosen career. He commented: “Aiden has worked very hard and his progression had resulted in impressive levels of responsibility for a trainee who is still working towards qualification. I am sure that he has a very bright future ahead of him.”

Sam, who works for Bridge Civil Engineering in Newton Abbot, received the CECA award for his achievements on a range of projects, including the directional drilling of pipelines for South West Water, construction of switchgear buildings for Western Power Distribution, and cycle routes/highways works for Devon County Council.

Dale Roberts, a Director at Bridge Civil Engineering, commented: “Sam is a very committed and conscientious young man. He has developed quickly since joining us from school and is now an essential part of the team.”

Paul Santer, CECA South West Regional Director, said that the success of Peter, Aiden and Sam highlighted the current opportunities available for young people in civil engineering.

Said Paul: “They have all made impressive starts to their chosen careers and are a shining example of what can be achieved in a supportive environment. There are lots of opportunities in our industry for talented young men and women across many different areas of the economy – from coastal engineering and marine projects to transportation and renewable energy. Indeed, many of our previous winners are now working on some of the most important infrastructure projects in the UK.”

The CECA South West Young Achiever Awards are presented annually in recognition of exceptional performance, with each winner receiving a trophy and cheque for £500.

Our photo shows Peter Boden pictured with Dave Ellis, Chairman of CECA South West, who presented the awards at the livestreamed COVID-secure event.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Colin Bridgman .