• What is the Jean Venables Medal?
• Who is Jean Venables?
• Nomination process
• Prize
• 2012 winner and finalists

What is the Jean Venables Medal?

The Jean Venables Medal is presented annually to the best Technician Professional Review (TPR) candidate.

The aim of this award is to promote the awareness of the role of newly qualified Engineering Technicians. It is open to all applicants who have passed their TPR in the previous year to when the award is made.

Who is Jean Venables?

The medal is named after Jean Venables who was the ICE President from 2009 to 2010. Jean contributed significantly in raising the profile of our Technician members and still continues to contribute significantly to this initiative. 

Nomination process

Reviewers will nominate potential recipients(s) for the medal based on whether the candidate:

• Exhibited a passion and enthusiasm for civil engineering
• Demonstrated an ongoing participation in ICE activities
• Enhanced the profession of civil engineering
• Outstanding qualities in all attributes

Three candidates will be shortlisted annually and are invited to present their TPR project reports to a judging panel at the final. The winner will be announced via ICE’s website and members’ enewsletter in March.

Prize

The winner will be awarded the 2013 Jean Venables Medal and £500 at the ICE Annual Awards Ceremony in the autumn. 

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2013 winner and finalists

This year’s final took place on 15 January 2013 at ICE headquarters in London. The 3 finalists who also competed for the 2013 Jean Venables medal were:

• Richard Bamford EngTech MICE - 2013 Jean Venables Medal Winner
  
• Richard Knight EngTech TMICE
  
• David Smith EngTech TMICE
  

Richard Bamford EngTech TMICE

Richard has worked for VolkerFitzpatrick since 2005, initially an Assistant Site Engineer he gained the experience and company training required to be promoted to a full Site Engineer in 2009. Since then he has completed an NVQ Level 3 with the company, which led to his recent successful TMICE review.

Currently working as a Section Engineer, his main responsibilities include the dimensional control of the site, ensuring the construction activities adhere to the inspection and test plan, managing the health and safety of site operatives, producing relevant task briefings for the day to day construction activities and managing controlled drawings and permits to work.

He is currently producing the Health and Safety handover manuals following the successful completion of his last project.

“I am extremely delighted to have won the 2013 Jean Venables Medal. It is great confirmation of the work I have done up to this point in my career. I would like to attribute my success to the excellent Civil Engineer Training and Development Program at VolkerFitzpatrick. I have received so much support and encouragement from both my delegated engineer, who mentors me, and the company training department; there is a very strong ethos of investing in employees at VolkerFitzpatrick.” said Richard.

Richard Knight EngTech TMICE

Richard graduated with a HNC Civil Engineering from Southampton Institute in 2004 and is employed as a Site Agent by Raymond Brown Construction Ltd where he is responsible for the delivery of Civil Engineering and Construction projects both as a Principal Contractor and sub-contractor. He is also responsible for Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality on site along with the commercial aspects of the project.

On being nominated the medal and reaching the final three 2013 finalists Richard says, "It was a great honour to be nominated for the Jean Venables Medal and it tops off 10 years within the construction industry and Raymond Brown Construction. I am extremely grateful to all those that have influenced my career and helped me pass my review, both colleagues and family."

David Smith EngTech TMICE

David Smith graduated with a HNC in Civil Engineering at the University of Greenwich and completed an NVQ Level 3 in Railway Engineering. He then went on to complete his Advanced Apprenticeship in Permanent Way maintenance in 2010. He is currently studying part time to complete a BSc Honours Degree in Civil Engineering whilst working for Tube Lines as a Structural Inspector.

His main role and responsibilities include the inspection of London Underground infrastructure assets in accordance with S1060 standard, delivery of the cyclic program of inspections, identification of Civil asset defects and recommendations for remedial / rectification works to ensure the safety of the operational railway.

On reaching the final three candidates David says, I” feel extremely honoured to have been nominated for the Jean Venables Medal. It will go a long way to highlighting the standard of training I have received from Tube Lines throughout my career. I would like to thank all my co-workers for their support and look forward to the new challenges the future will bring.”