42| CITB
CITB NI celebrating success with construction professionals and students at annual CIOB Awards
Pictured are Barry Neilson, Chief Executive CITB NI, Martin Cushnahan QTAS, joint winners Brenda Regan and Justin Keane, Mark Gilmore CIOB and Roger Gillespie Training LMS.
C
ITB NI hosted another successful Chartered Institute of Building Lecture and Awards evening at Nutts Corner Training Centre recently acknowledging local students in their professional exams in 2015.
The presentation focused on the development, design and build of The Welcome-Wolfson Centre for Experimental Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast and focused on all aspects of the project from design to completion presented by O’Hare & Govern. Certificates were awarded to
21 candidates who successfully passed their CIOB examinations last year through QTAS and Training LMS training organisations. Justin Keane and Brenda Regan were presented with the joint Best Overall Performance Award for their outstanding results in the CMP programme in 2015 in Ireland.
Barry Neilson, Chief Executive CITB NI presented the students with their certificates said: “It is important that the construction industry acknowledges its very best individuals, not just for them or their employers but also to illustrate that construction is a good career option for our young people who are starting on their career paths. As both an Industry Training Board and Sector Skills Council CITB NI are proud to host these awards and we congratulate all those who have worked incredibly hard to achieve CIOB status. The construction industry has weathered the financial storm and 2015 was finally the year that our local industry seen some real growth after a long period of contraction. Growth is gradual in our sector but development of local projects and housing will help all help to develop the local industry for now and the future.” Anyone interested in supervisory or management level qualifications through CIOB can contact Mandy Coleman mcoleman@ciob.org.uk
CITB NI Award Top GCSE students at building awards
T
he students who gained the highest grades in GCSE Construction and Built Environment in 2015 were recognised by CITB NI at the annual Chartered Institute of Building Awards held at Nutts Corner last night. The GCSE in Construction and the Built Environment has been developed by CCEA to give students a realistic understanding and experience of construction that will enable them to develop an authentic working relationship with the real world-of-work. First and second place were awarded to Jonathan Loughridge, Ballymena Academy and Emmett Hamill, St Patricks’s Grammar, Armagh. Third place was awarded to Conor McAvoy, Abbey CBS Grammar School, Newry. The students were invited to the annual Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Awards hosted by CITB NI which awarded those professionals who gained CIOB status throughout the year and included a presentation on the Welcome-Wolfson Centre for Experimental Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast. On presenting the awards, Barry Neilson, Chief Executive, CITB NI, said: “Congratulations to all the students who excelled in GCSE in Construction and the Built Environment. We are delighted you chose to study a topic that reflects todays modern construction industry. This is a growing topic of choice with 545 pupils sitting the exam in 2015 and 33 schools now offering the subject at GCSE level. We provide help and guidance on the topic via our textbook and we hope that by studying and excelling at this level you may possibly consider a career in a dynamic industry with lots of opportunities to choose from.” “Whilst the construction industry has been hit hard by the economic downturn, there are modest levels of growth on the horizon. Construction
Pictured are Tom Heaney CCEA, Conor McAvoy Abbey CBS Grammar, Newry (3rd place), Johnathan Loughridge Ballymena Academy (1st place) Emmett Hamill, St Patricks Grammar, Armagh and Barry Neilson Chief Executive CITB NI.
has built our homes, hospitals, schools, roads and these buildings and landmarks will be here long after they have been constructed. It is a rewarding industry that young people should still consider entering. There are opportunities to develop your managerial skills, start your own business, work internationally or become a master craftsman. There are good prospects for career enhancement and there is good earning potential.”