To recognise those who are excelling through training, learning, and professional development, Howard Civil Engineering proudly launched the Building Futures Awards in 2025. This new initiative focuses on individuals who are building their careers and professional credentials within our organisation, becoming highly valued members of our team along the way.
The inaugural awards highlighted five remarkable colleagues whose hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication to growth truly stand out.
Daniel Heffernan – Apprentice of the Year (Winner)
Daniel’s commitment to excellence in his Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying has been nothing short of inspiring. Having already achieved outstanding recognition this year — winning both the Commitment to the College Award and the prestigious Principal’s Award at the Leeds College of Building BIG (Building Industry Greats) Awards — Daniel continues to set the benchmark for professionalism and dedication.
Since joining Howard in 2019 and progressing from a Level 4 qualification to his current degree-level studies, Daniel has embodied the company’s values of growth, integrity, and excellence. His willingness to support fellow apprentices, coupled with his drive to continually learn and improve, makes him a truly deserving winner of Apprentice of the Year.
Mikey Cosgrove – Apprentice of the Year (Highly Commended)
Mikey joined us as an Apprentice Engineer and has shown exceptional enthusiasm, technical skill, and a proactive approach to learning throughout his apprenticeship. His hands-on attitude and growing engineering expertise have made him a vital member of the team and an outstanding example of dedication in action.
Earlier this year, Mikey demonstrated his capabilities in managing the countdown to completion of a project at Leeds Bradford Airport. His excellent work ethic, attention to detail, and effective use of Field View allowed us to achieve a defect-free handover of the terminal building and external yard slabs.
Mikey has completed his Level 3 Civil Engineering Technician course and is looking ahead to a bright future with Howard Civil Engineering.
Lucas Lee – Rising Star (Winner)
Lucas has demonstrated impressive progress in his career development after joining us as a Topman, assisting our operatives carrying out earthworks. He has since transitioned to Pipelayer, proving to be equally capable and reliable in his current role. His consistent performance, reliability, and determination on site reflect his commitment to growth and continuous improvement.
Alex Fowler – Rising Star (Highly Commended)
Alex has followed the same pathway as Lucas, starting out as a Topman before moving to Pipelayer. In both roles, he has demonstrated a very strong work ethic and a commitment to personal and professional advancement. His rapid progress and willingness to take on new challenges are a credit to both himself and his team.
Hayley Ashton – Student of the Year
Joining Howard Civil Engineering in August 2024 as a Pre-Construction Apprentice, Hayley has made an excellent start to her career. Currently studying for her Level 4 Construction Quantity Surveying Technician qualification at Leeds College of Building, Hayley has embraced the opportunity to combine academic study with practical industry experience. She brings enthusiasm, fresh ideas, and curiosity to the pre-construction team. Hayley is an exceptionally talented individual with enormous potential, and we’re excited to support her continued growth and long-term progression in the years ahead.
Michael Howard, Managing Director at Howard Civil Engineering, presented our five award winners with a trophy and certificate in recognition of their success. Commenting on the awards, Michael said:
“Our five Building Futures Award winners have achieved outstanding progress early in their careers. We’re proud to shine a light on their passion, skill, determination, and ambition. It was extremely difficult to narrow down our contenders to five winners – I’m pleased to say we have so many colleagues excelling across all areas of our business. Congratulations and thank you to our winners, but also a big thank you to all our other fantastic colleagues who have played such a huge part in the company’s success.”
Our Building Futures Award winners are an inspiration to anyone considering a career in construction. Their success demonstrates the value of providing a strong foundation for the next generation of construction professionals.
