The Guernsey Building Trades Employers’ Association (GBTEA) held its annual Gala Dinner & Recognition Awards on Friday 25 September at The Farmhouse Hotel. The event celebrated the achievements of apprentices undertaking construction industry training programmes and awards were presented by GBTEA President, Paul Mason, and Louise Misselke, Principal of Guernsey College of Further Education. Guests also included Liz Coffey, Executive Head Teacher.
College tutors nominated a student from each of the six construction industry apprenticeship programmes as a category winner. The six nominees were then interviewed by representatives from the GBTEA in order to select the overall winner.
The results
Winners of the 2020 awards were:
Bradley Smith for Carpentry & Joinery
Apprenticeship training with R G Falla Ltd
Prize Sponsored by: C A Duquemin Ltd
Thomas Oakman for Electrical Installations
Apprenticeship training with Alderney Electricity Ltd
Prize Sponsored by Guernsey Electricity Ltd
Dexter Crowson for Plumbing & Heating
Apprenticeship training with ECO Installations Ltd
Prize Sponsored by: Domestic Heating Services Ltd
Dean Le Gallez for “Ronez Young Achiever” in Stone Masonry Skills
Apprenticeship training with Granite Le Pelley Ltd
Prize Sponsored by: Ronez Ltd
Flynn Meerveld for Trowel Trades
Apprenticeship training with J Meerveld & Sons Ltd
Prize Sponsored by UCF Civil Engineering Contractors Ltd
Michael McGinn for Painting & Decorating
Apprenticeship training with A&G Décor
Prize Sponsored by P3 Facades & Interiors
Each nominee received an engraved tankard, a certificate of achievement and a £100 voucher for R H Gaudion & Son Ltd and DHS Ltd – donated by the respective award sponsor.
The overall winner and the new holder of the R G Falla Rose Bowl was named as Bradley Smith. Bradley also received a cheque for £250 from R G Falla Ltd.
Director of Apprenticeships for the College, Chris Torode said: “We were delighted to be a part of the evening. Our construction industry apprenticeships continue to be a popular choice for young people seeking to enter the workforce whilst studying towards a formal qualification. The programmes are constantly evolving to reflect developments in the construction industry and we are grateful to the GBTEA for its on going support and for hosting another great event”.
Brian Singleton, Secretary to the GBTEA added: “The construction industry, as with so many other areas of our economy, has faced significant challenges this year, but thankfully is recovering. It was therefore particularly important that we came together for this event to celebrate the great achievements of these young people who will be taking our industry forward. Congratulations to Bradley and to all of our winners”.
During the evening the GBTEA launched its new promotional video ‘I Wouldn’t Say ‘No’ to Construction’. The video highlights the amazing career opportunities available in this diverse industry and illustrates to students the alternative career paths available on the island via The Guernsey Apprenticeship programme.
The evening also raised over £1,100 for the GBTEA’s chosen charity for 2020 – ‘Mind Guernsey’.
This photo shows (left to right): Louise Misselke – Principal, Guernsey College of Further Education, Flynn Meerveld, Dean Le Gallez, Thomas Oakman, Bradley Smith, Michael McGinn, Dexter Crowson and Paul Mason – President of the GBTEA.
