MCLAUGHLIN & Harvey has highlighted the achievements of trainee engineer Christy Dickson, who won the CECA Scotland Most Promising Apprentice 2023 award.
Christy joined the company in 2019. Initially gaining experience with the team at the Bushmills Distillery Offsite Maturation Facility site followed by a brief spell with the estimating department, he then joined the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme which has been a focal point of his work since September 2020.
Despite balancing working away from home on challenging projects and the impacts of Covid, Christy completed his Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) foundation course and moved straight onto the HLA in civil engineering. He is currently in his second year and attends university every Thursday.
McLaughlin & Harvey revealed that Christy frequently puts himself forward to take on the extra responsibilities of mentoring and supervising young people or work-returners brought on-site for work experience, site visits or work placements. In 2022, he helped guide eight S3 girl pupils from Hawick High School as part of the CECA Scotland-endorsed What-IF programme.
Robin Erskine, senior contracts manager at McLaughlin & Harvey, said, “I have had the opportunity to work with Christy at the Hawick FPS for the past two-and-a-half years and I’m very proud of how he has developed into a very competent young engineer. From day one, he has shown a real willingness and eagerness to learn and advance his knowledge in civil engineering.
“His attitude, dedication and work ethic are exemplary. He works every other weekend on-site in Hawick due to his midweek college day commitments back in Belfast. He has an excellent relationship with his peers, colleagues, subcontractors and client team, and I am delighted that he has picked up CECA Scotland’s Most Promising Apprentice award – thoroughly deserved.”
Commenting on his award win, Christy Dickson said, “I am very honoured to have won this year’s CECA Scotland award for Most Promising Apprentice. I cannot thank Seamus Devlin and the team at McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd enough for all the training, support and opportunities they have given me. As well as my family and friends who have helped guide me throughout these early stages in my career as a civil engineer.”
Christy received the award at the annual CECA Awards Dinner, held at the Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow.
