Trainee Site Manager Lydia McGuiness has won The Andrew Platten Award at the Constructing Excellence Yorkshire and Humber (CEYH) Awards held on 12 July in Leeds.

Andrew Platten was an Associate Dean at Leeds Beckett University and academic lead for CEYH. He was tragically killed by a driver under the influence of drugs whilst out cycling in 2016. Following his death, it was decided to name a CEYH award in his honour, to be received by a regional individual who has excelled at this stage of their career. With Andrew being such an advocate for skills and a keen supporter of the Generation for Change (G4C) movement, the judges said it seemed fitting that the first external winner should be someone who represents the future of the industry, so the trophy was awarded to Lydia, who won the Future Leaders award at G4C earlier this year.

The judges said: “We were impressed with Lydia’s commitment to being a positive ambassador for our industry; delivering talks to school, engaging the local community and proactively addressing prevalent issues (such as lack of diversity, sustainability and mental health). We are extremely impressed with how she has taken charge of her own professional development, seeking to expand her knowledge of the industry at any opportunity. Her passion for construction shines through and she is a credit to Henry Boot Construction and an inspiration to others.”

The CEYH awards aim to recognise the strides the industry has taken in terms of improved cross-sector collaboration, stronger and more inclusive leadership, innovation and positive community impact. Throughout the evening, £3,064 was also raised for chosen charity Epilepsy Action.