A Plymouth University student has won a top prize in the annual South West Women in Construction (SWWIC) Awards.
Lucy Eyres, who is in her final year of MEng (Hons) Civil and Coastal Engineering, won the SWWIC Graduate Award at the group’s final networking event of 2015. She won for producing an outstanding application listing why she wanted to work in construction and why she chose her degree course.
Lucy’s win entitles her to financial support throughout her final year of study and an invitation to a number of SWWIC events this year. Kathryn Simpson, who studies BSc (Hons) Construction Management and the Environment at Plymouth University, was named a runner-up.
SWWIC has been working in partnership with Plymouth University, providing practical help to young female students in the final year of their building and construction degrees. The awards are open to any female student completing a full time construction-related degree course at Plymouth, Cornwall and Exeter universities, and Lucy said:
“I am delighted to have won this prize and know it will help me towards my goal of working in construction. I chose this degree programme as it was the most appropriate for a career in coastal engineering and Plymouth University has a good reputation for student satisfaction.”
Dr Liz Hodgkinson, Lecturer and Admissions Tutor (Civil Engineering) School of Marine Science and Engineering at the University said:
"By providing financial support and inspiring role models, SWWIC are playing an important and influential role in increasing our women undergraduates’ aspirations to become construction professionals. We are delighted to support this initiative and promote construction careers to females. The variety and varied nature of the construction industry opens up many opportunities and to reward successful students in this way is a bonus. The networking opportunities SWWIC offer will be a great benefit to the finalists and the winner.”
University partner City College Plymouth also fared well at the awards, as Samantha West, who is completing an apprenticeship in decorative finishes, won the SWWIC award for students working towards an apprenticeship. Samantha said:
“My aspirations for the future are to be a successful and established painter and decorator, ultimately in a self–employed capacity and to positively promote the presence of women working in the construction industry.”
Samantha intends working in the construction industry and intends using the prize money to improve her tool kit.
SWWIC Chair, Lucy George-Foster said;
"SWWIC continues to evolve and has grown from strength to strength. It is an exciting time for our voluntary organisation to present our annual awards to acknowledge the students’ hard work, commitment and specialism in construction shown by female students and apprentices. We are delighted to support them in their final year of study and training and we hope it will encourage them to pursue their desired career in the construction industry. SWWIC continues to proactively work hard to help develop members' personal and leadership skills. This year the SWWIC Ambassador Programme has seen several members undertake ambassadorial roles delivering presentations in local schools and colleges.”
For further information www.swwic.org.uk
