Laing O’Rourke was named outstanding large employer of the year at the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) Pride of Construction Awards, in recognition of its pioneering work with apprentices and on the government’s Trailblazers programme.
The main contractor beat off competition from BAM Construct and Redrow Homes to take home the Gold Award, which also recognised the firm’s commitment to fairness, inclusion and respect, and its approach to embedding health and safety in the entire workforce.
Receiving the award, Caroline Blackman, director at Laing O’Rourke said: “We are thrilled to receive this award on such a momentous and historic night for CITB and the construction industry. We are keenly aware that to build our business we need to invest in our workforce. Apprenticeships and a strong ethos of equal opportunity are key contributors to our success.”
Laing O’Rourke’s Caroline Blackman receives the outstanding large employer award from CITB chief executive Adrian Belton and even host Alexander Armstrong
The CITB Pride of Construction Awards were set up to mark the training body’s 50th anniversary and celebrate key contributions to the industry made by individuals, companies and training partners. The winners were announced last week at a gala event held at Old Billingsgate in London.
The Gold Awards were judged by an industry panel that included CITB chairman James Wates and Peter Hansford, the government’s chief construction adviser.
The four remaining CITB Gold Awards went to: Lloyd & Gravell for outstanding SME employer; the Federation of Master Builders for outstanding strategic partner; Jones Brothers of Swansea for outstanding training partner; and Suzannah Nichol MBE, CEO of the National Specialist Contractors Council for personality of the year.
The hotly-contested National Construction College Outstanding Apprentice award went to 24-year-old Christopher Smith, who is currently completing the third year of his apprenticeship with Irvine Contractors in Shetland.
Receiving the award from television personality Alexander Armstrong, he commented: “The training and support I have received during my apprenticeship from my employer, the NCC and CITB have helped give me a great start in the construction industry.”
Christopher Smith picked up the National Construction College Outstanding Apprentice award
Andy Walder, principal at the National Construction College added: “Christopher is an outstanding apprentice and a worthy winner due to his attitude, aptitude and ability. We are delighted to recognise and credit his achievements as he excels in his trade.”
Other winners in the National Construction College awards category were: Scaffolding Apprentice of the Year – Charlie Holloway from GMK Scaffolding in Kidderminster; Plant Apprentice of the Year – Tom Hughes from Volvo Construction Equipment in Warrington; and General Construction Apprentice of the Year – Jermaine Henry from Bam Nuttall.
The CITB 50th Anniversary Apprentice was named as Kenny McAllister from KMAC Plasterers, in East Kilbride. And the 50th Anniversary Specialist Apprentice was named Glenn Pearce from Central Flooring Services in Whetstone, Leicestershire.
Sarah Semley from Evergreen Joiners, in Ulverston, was named SkillBuild Apprentice of the Year. The award for Company Contribution to a National Skills Academy for Construction Project went to Cavendish Construction from Pinner in Middlesex. The award for Individual Contribution to a National Skills Academy for Construction Project went to Zoe Dalton from Denne Construction in Sittingbourne.
The award for Outstanding National Skills Academy for Construction Client went to Southampton City Council. And the award for National Skills Academy for Construction Contribution to Supply Chain Engagement went to a Taylor Woodrow/BAM Nutall joint venture.
The CITB’s former chairman, Sir Michael Latham, was awarded the CITB Lifetime Achievement award and Network Rail Engineers, from Dawlish in Devon, received the Pride of Construction Award 2014.
