The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) sponsored the Construction High Flyer Award at this year's East of England Construction Training Awards, which took place at the SAS Radisson Hotel in Stansted on Friday 10th October. The awards celebrate people and companies that are making an impact on the construction industry through training.
200 people attended the awards dinner, which were hosted by BBC Look East's Stewart White. Kate Adie OBE, one of UK's foremost journalists famous for her reporting from conflicts in the Middle East, in Africa and in the Balkans, was the keynote speaker.
The FMB Construction High Flyer Award was presented to winner Gavin Napper by FMB National President Ron Storer. Also present from the FMB was Richard Diment, Director General, Helen Osgood, Eastern Regional Director and Geoff Lister, FMB immediate past president and Chairman of the Cross Industry Construction Task Force, which is aiming to double the number of apprentices working in construction by 2012.
Helen Osgood, Eastern Regional Director at the FMB said:
"Training is crucial for the survival of the construction industry, which is why the FMB was so keen to sponsor an East of England Construction Training Award. The FMB congratulates Gavin on his award win and success in his career. He is a brilliant ambassador for the industry and a great inspiration for the next generation of apprentices and trainees."
Osgood continued:
"Sadly, what the industry really needs is an ambassador and inspiration for the companies, to encourage them to take on one of the many people hoping to complete an apprenticeship. At the FMB we are committed to encouraging our members to train the future generation and in fact 22% of FMB members train apprentices compared to a national average of just 4%! But more still needs to be done in order to ensure the survival of our industry which is why Geoff Lister, our past president set up the task force to encourage more firms to take on apprentices."
17 October 2008
