Thursday 3rd Feb 2011

THE OUTSTANDING achievements of students based within Exeter College’s Construction faculty are being celebrated tonight at its annual awards ceremony, which is this year being held for the first time in its recently expanded Falcon House centre.

Following around £1 million worth of investment, adding to existing space and facilities at the site on Sowton Industrial Estate, the new extension to the building seemed the perfect venue for a celebration of some of the Faculty’s greatest success stories during the last academic year.

The winners across the year groups will be presented with certificates in recognition of their hard work across a broad range of courses at the event, which has been sponsored by construction industry companies MIDAS, Cyril Sweett and Tool Care Hire and will also be attended by the students’ invited guests, teaching staff and employers.

During the ceremony, students will be picking up titles ranging from Painting and Decorating Student of the Year to Plumbing Apprentice of the Year, National Diploma (Construction) Student of the Year, Higher National Certificate Student of the Year and Key Skills Student of the Year.

Speaking beforehand, Head of Exeter College Construction faculty Chris Whitaker says: “We are looking forward to acknowledging our students’ achievements tonight and also the essential support of local employers who continue to provide vital employment opportunities for young people as they enter a career within the Construction industry”.

Five winning employers will also be presented with awards in acknowledgement of the invaluable support they provide to the apprentices they take on during the course of their studies at Exeter College. They are: Okement Property Development, Delve Electrical, CP Conversions, JH Cheffings & Son and Interserve.

Delighted to be receiving the award for Professional Studies Employer of the Year on behalf of Interserve – a global leader in the support services and construction industry with a revenue of over £1.9 million and a 50,000-strong worldwide workforce – is South West Director Richard Ellis who says: “We have supported Sam Boggis for over two years now, providing paid work experience during term holidays and breaks while she was studying for her National Diploma in Construction with Exeter College.

“We were delighted with her commitment and attitude and therefore happy to take her on permanently as of August last year as a trainee surveyor and to sponsor her through university where she is now studying part-time while working on one of our projects and gaining valuable experience.

He continued: “As a former bricklaying apprentice myself, I feel passionately about supporting trade and technical apprentices and giving them the best help and start possible on the career ladder. I would thoroughly recommend other employers do the same as it is very rewarding.

“I am delighted to be receiving this award both personally and on behalf of Interserve and to be officially recognised by the College for supporting apprentices. I hope the award will encourage others to follow suit and to actively commit and help develop the future life blood of the industry.”