It was that time of year again, the Young Person in Construction (YPC) Awards hosted by the Construction Development Alliance (CDA). This year it was held at Burnley Mechanics on Thursday, the 25th of May, 2023.

As members of the CDA, Hawthorn Estates is happy to support young people in their goal to reach higher and achieve more.  This is why Hawthorn Estates are ecstatic to help with organising and attending the YPC Awards.

The Young Person in Construction Awards 2023 aims to support, congratulate and encourage young people to continue their construction pursuits.  The CDA desires to recognise these young people’s daily work and let them know they are seen, recognised and appreciated.

What Awards?

The Awards are a way for our members and the local communities to get together and celebrate the new professionals for their hard work and achievements.

There is a saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” yet, it takes a similar support system to build a lasting career. As construction professionals, we support all young people in making their careers in the construction industry today.

These awards are a way of supporting these young people.

Left to right – Max Colligan (Sika), Ben Hall (Overcoming Adversity), Abi Brierley (Young Construction Professional and Overall Winner), Laura Gregson (Stand in for Sam Gregson – Young Construction Designer), Holly Duffy (Young Construction Apprentice), Connor Lynch (Young Construction Environmentalist), Charlie Luxton (Guest Speaker), Reid Lewis (HDP) and Emily Millar (Hawthorn Estates LTD)

The categories are:

The CDA members and their guests are incredibly proud of the winner of this year’s YPCA.  As a thank you for all the winner’s hard work, they receive a certificate, trophy, and a personalised goodie bag to help them in their construction career.

A unique Award is held as a surprise for the night that Forbes Solicitors sponsored for the Overall Winner.  This year the Overall Winner was Abigale Brierley, who won the Young Construction Professional.  The overall winner Award was sponsored by Forbes Solicitors.

About the Evening

The main sponsor for the evening was Sika.  With this help from Sika, the YPCA welcomed an extraordinary celebrity personality, Charlie Luxton; Charlie is known for his shows, such as Channel Four’s – Building the Dream – Alongside his TV Shows, Charlie is an architectural designer who writes and speaks about the environment and sustainable architecture.

The chosen charity for the YPCA 23 was the Horsfall and 42nd Street, aiming to help young people with their mental health and well-being.  You may have noticed that many young people have struggled through the last few years, and Covid-19 has taken a massive toll on their self-esteem.  Why not donate today using our event fundraiser page if you haven’t already?  Our Justgiving page will continue to accept presents till October 2023.

The evening started with a drinks canopy sponsored by Booth King Associates, which allowed the Members and guests a chance to network.

In the auditorium, Burnley College sponsored the tables.

On the night, Abi Brierley, the Young Construction Professional and Overall Winner, thanked those who supported her and added the wise words, “Whether it be an 18-year-old girl from Burnley, whether it be an apprentice, whether it be a graduate – Give them a chance, coz they might just be the future.”

For the evening charity, the CDA arranged sponsored hampers to be won as a thank-you to those who donated to the charity.  Each hamper was supported by the companies listed below:

With a whopping £1813.00 raised on the night, donations are still available using our JustGiving fundraising page.  Donate Today 

Offering Thanks

Hawthorn Estates would like to say a big thank you to all involved in the YPCA committee this year.  It has taken a lot of time and patience. Still, the hard work has paid off, giving these five young people a fantastic night and an opportunity for the CDA members to praise the up-and-coming construction professionals of tomorrow.