COUNCIL WORKER TRIUMPHS AT CONSTRUCTION AWARDS

Property design technician Shane Evans has been crowned the overall winner at the Duke of Gloucester’s Young Achievers Scheme awards.

The awards celebrate young talent in the construction industry and look for those who have overcome barriers to achieve their success.

Twenty-eight-year-old Shane won the Architecture, Planning and Design prize as well as being named overall winner.

He impressed the judges with his resilience and determination for achieving in his career in construction despite serious health issues.

Shane lives with the serious medical condition Cystic Fibrosis, but still excels in his vocational and academic education and has demonstrated sheer determination in not just succeeding in his chosen career, but in making a real impact in his workplace, community and college.

Shane gets up at 5.30am every morning just to do the exercises necessary to allow him to be fit for work, but he is still comes to work on time, with enthusiasm and a smile on his face.

Shane has never let his illness get in the way of his ambitions and has even sat externally set examinations whilst receiving his life-saving treatment in hospital.

Shane has had to work twice, maybe three times, as hard to keep up and keep ahead and Coleg Sir Gâr Principal Barry Liles said: “Shane’s sheer ability, determination and work ethic have exceeded any other student I have come across.”

Shane also encourages other young people who want to have a career in the construction industry by engaging with schools and the organisation Cyfle Building Skills, where he is on the interviewing panels for new recruits to the scheme.

The judges said: “Shane is an inspiring example of a person who manages debilitating health issues on a daily basis through sheer hard work and determination. All the judges found him to be an engaging and knowledgeable individual, with an infectiously positive and optimistic outlook on life. Shane has already shown how his appetite to develop his skills, combined with his interest in making things, have allowed him to take on and succeed in conquering ever greater challenges.”

The awards are organised by the Construction Youth Trust with the support of the Trust’s Patron, HRH The Duke of Gloucester.

Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans said: “Shane continues to do himself proud as he progresses his career, and we are privileged to have him as part of our team. We are delighted that he has been recognised for all his hard work and determination.

“Shane started off in engineering as a toolmaker and then had a change of career due to health reasons. He now undertakes a wide range of project related work within the department such as preparation of planning and building regs drawings, assisting in design and access statements, feasibility and concept designs and at the same time is studying for a BSc (Hons) in Construction Management and Technology. He is currently involved in working with the in-house design team on the two of the first fully Passivhaus schools in Wales.”