Leeds College of Building Celebrates Student Success at BIG Awards

Annual ceremony recognises achievements of students and apprentices

Leeds College of Building (LCB) recently held its annual BIG (Building Industry Greats) Awards, marking a significant occasion to acknowledge the accomplishments of its students and apprentices from the 2025/2026 academic year. The event, which took place at Elland Road’s Centenary Pavilion, saw a record number of awards presented, including 50 trophies and ten Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) QUEST Technician Scholarships.

A night of recognition and speeches

The ceremony was hosted by Rich Williams, known for his work with Absolute Radio and LUTV, who maintained a lively atmosphere throughout the evening. For the first time at the BIG Awards, several students addressed the audience. Among them was Niamh Ormsby, a Brickwork student who received the Construction Crafts Outstanding Improvement Award. During her speech, she praised her Bricklaying tutor Gurjit Rayat and her Progress Coach Cynthia Mandaza.

Support from industry sponsors

The event was supported by twelve organisations, reflecting strong industry engagement with the college. Sponsors included:

• Marlborough Construction Services Limited (Gold Headline Sponsor)
• BAM UK & Ireland (Strategic Partnership Sponsor)
• GMI Construction Group PLC (Silver Sponsor)
• JN Bentley (Bronze Sponsor)
• Bethell Group (Bronze Sponsor)
• Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd (Bronze Sponsor)
• B&K Systems Ltd
• Bagnalls Howarth Timber and Building Supplies Ltd
• Robertson Group
• Sparta Systems Limited
• Wharfedale

Paul Donnelly, Managing Director at Marlborough, highlighted the importance of such events in celebrating young people’s training achievements and addressing the skills shortage within the construction sector. Sam Wimpenny, Commercial Director at GMI, reflected on the benefits of apprenticeship routes compared to traditional university education.

Top awards and student experiences

The evening’s most prestigious honours included the Governor’s Award, won by Stephen Edmonson, and the Principal’s Award, presented to Thang Nguyen. Thang also received the Faculty Award for Special Achievement. He spoke about his initial struggles and the support he received from the college, emphasising perseverance as key advice for others facing challenges.

Thang was recognised by his tutors for overcoming significant personal adversity while maintaining a positive and respectful attitude throughout his studies.

Further information

For those interested in learning more about the awards or the college’s courses, further details and a gallery from the event are available on the college’s website.