Eric Wright Civil Engineering Wins Award at the Civil Engineering Contractors Association North West Region
At the annual CECA Dinner held at the Crowne Plaza, Liverpool Hotel on Friday 23rd September 2011, Kevin Brittleton, a trainee with Eric Wright Civil Engineering was awarded CECA NW Trainee of the Year 2011.
The award is presented to the civil engineering trainee who has demonstrated the most exceptional progress, dedication, initiative, adaptability or skills over the past year while employed within the industry by a CECA NWLtd., member company.
Candidates demonstrate exceptional achievement or performance in many ways including such matters as leadership and teamwork, unusual awareness and attention to specific aspects of project works, exceptional efforts in public relations, customer liaison etc. or health & safety awareness. Equally through the achievement of exceptional skills or competence through efforts and/or activities extra over those normally encountered within a standard training curriculum whether craft, apprenticeship, technical or professional in content.
After leaving school Kevin chose to undertake an MSc in Civil Engineering at Leeds University. Kevin progressed well enjoying his course and achieving good grades in classes. Half way through the course, due to medical reasons he unfortunately had to withdraw from the course and he was unable to return to finish his studies.
Undeterred by this setback he was determined to continue his career in Civil Engineering and began applying for positions as a Trainee Engineer. However after a year of enquiring and applying for jobs he had failed to secure a position or even an interview. Kevin contracted the Oaklea Trust, a government backed charity which supports people returning to work. Eric Wright Civil Engineering first came across Kevin through a work placement programme, where Kevin worked as a volunteer, full time to give him some experience in the workplace. From that point he spent the next six weeks in the office helping out wherever he could.
Lately Kevin has been capable of going out on site with a trainee of his own to fulfil tasks as instructed, carrying out the duties of a site engineer to a good standard. As his responsibilities and level of understanding improved he gained in confidence and self esteem and began to have more input, this resulted in him gaining more respect from both the senior engineer and the site management team.
Whilst working on site he continued with his studies at University of Bolton, attending one day a week and completing assignments in the evenings. This was hard work due to the long hours and travel time at both university and on site, but his exam results at the end of his first year demonstrated his commitment and his grades have put him on track to attain a first class honours degree. He was selected on the recommendation of his tutors at the university to become a student mentor to help the next first year students, it demonstrated to us as a Company that his hard work at University and his ability to relate to other students and staff had been recognised..
He is now looking forward to progressing into his second year of the course and meeting the new challenges that will come with it. His development on site is increasing day by day and he is constantly making every effort to better himself as both an engineer and employee of Eric Wright Civil Engineering.
Well done Kevin on a well deserved award!
Pictured: Kevin receiving his award
Posted: 11th October 2011