Seymour Civil Engineering’s passion for inspiring and nurturing future generations of civil engineers has been formally recognised, as the company was presented with the Mike Gardiner Cup at this year’s ICE North East annual dinner, for the second year running.
The Mike Gardiner Cup is an award presented to the company who has shown outstanding support of the Institute of Civil Engineers Education Programme, and has been proactive in engaging with the younger generations across the North East.
Kevin Byrne, Seymour’s Managing Director, who was presented with the cup at the ICE annual dinner at the end of April, said: “As a business we see the importance of inspiring the next generations to consider a career within the civil engineering industry and we are passionate about showcasing the industry to the engineers of the future in any way we can.
“It's no secret that our industry is facing a pretty serious skills shortage, one that if not tackled will have a serious impact on the future of the civil engineering sector. Seymour has an apprenticeship programme that we’re incredibly proud of, that has supported young engineers into the business and has given them the grounds to really excel within the industry.
“In addition to this, we also recognise the importance of engaging with the engineers of the future as early as possible, to ensure that 13/14 year olds choosing their subjects at GCSE have all the information they need to consider a career within engineering.”
Over the past 12 months, Seymour has attended a number of interactive events across the North East, showcasing the ICE’s cable stayed bridge, an activity which gives school children the opportunity to have a go at building and dismantling a 13m span cable stayed bridge.
Kevin added: “Civil engineers design, build and maintain the world around us and make our day-to-day activities possible. Interactive activities like the cable stayed bridge reveal to younger students the impact that civil engineering has in our modern society.
“The bridge exercise has been even more impactful this year as for many of the children taking part in the activity, the construction of the Northern Spire, the cable-stayed bridge over the River Wear in Sunderland, is happening right on their doorsteps.”
As well as exhibiting at numerous events, Seymour has strong connections with a number of local schools and colleges, with employees acting as STEM ambassadors and CITB Construction ambassadors committing time and resources to attending career events, pushing the opportunities available within the engineering sector.
Taking home, the Mike Gardiner Cup has kicked started what the company hopes will be a successful awards season as it celebrates its 40th year anniversary.
Seymour Civil Engineering has made it down to the final in seven out of 14 categories, totalling nine shortlistings across all the categories, at the 2018 Construction Excellence North East awards, as well as being shortlisted in three categories, including Company of the Year, in this year’s Hartlepool Business Awards.
At the recent Civil Engineering Contractors Association North East awards, they swept the board winning Project of the Year, Going the Extra Mile Award, Health and Safety Company of the Year and Training Company of the Year.
Pictured: Seymour Civil Engineering's Managing Director, Kevin Byrne with the President of the Institute of Civil Engineers Professor Lord Robert Mair