24 April 2014

Costain’s Mohammed Usman Shah, a Graduate Performance and Improvement Manager, has been highly commended at the Duke of Gloucester’s Awards for being a talented and innovative young surveyor.

Presented by the Construction Youth Trust, the Duke of Gloucester’s Young Achievers Scheme celebrates the achievement and contribution of young professionals to the industry. The scheme promotes the construction industry to young people of all social backgrounds with the aim of increasing the number and diversity of entrants into the sector.

The Awards are open to anyone under the age of 30 working in the construction industry in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Mohammed, who has worked at Costain since graduating in 2012, received his ‘Highly Commended Surveyor Award’ from HRH The Duke of Gloucester at a presentation ceremony at the Underglobe in London.
 
Mohammed said: “This award demonstrates what a graduate can achieve at Costain. I would like to thank everyone at Costain for all the opportunities and support they have provided me in my very young career so far. I hope this award inspires many others to work hard and to be recognised for all their achievements at Costain.”

The finalists were assessed by a panel of industry experts looking for young people who have not only achieved excellence in their careers so far, but who have overcome barriers and challenges or social disadvantage to get to where they are. The winners each received a cash prize and access to a one year mentoring programme organised by the Trust to enable them to make an even greater impact in the future.

The judges said Mohammed impressed the panel by showing great determination to succeed and great loyalty to those who support him, driven by a passion for the industry.

“Mohammed has not had an easy route into construction. He decided he wanted to be a surveyor and he didn’t get massive encouragement from others to do that. He deserves to be commended for his drive and determination to succeed. He’s a hugely energetic young man and a real lateral thinker. He’s very innovative, full of ideas, keen to change and keen to find better ways of doing things, which is quite unusual in our (surveying) profession. So I’ve got no doubt that Mohammed is one to watch for the future and that’s why he deserves to be commended this year,” said Simon Johnson, one of the judges on the panel and a Director at construction consultants AECOM, formerly Davis Langdon.

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