Double win at National women's awards - 1 July 2008
Multinational design and engineering consultancy, Atkins, won two categories at this year’s Inspire Awards, designed to herald the success of female professionals working in the built environment. The awards ceremony took place in London on Friday June 27
Elspeth Duxbury won the Outstanding Achiever award in the Engineering category. In January 2000, Elspeth co-founded a transport planning consultancy specialising in walking and making space work for people. The company had developed a turnover of £1.1 million when it was bought by Atkins last year.
Commented Elspeth, “I am delighted to receive this award. I feel that it is important to show that there are no barriers for people wishing to work and develop careers in the built environment sector, regardless of gender. It is an exciting area in which to work and where there are many diverse opportunities for career development.
“To deliver the best possible solution, we need to ensure that we take a balanced approach; this means ensuring that we create teams with a range of ages and genders so we can fully meet our clients’ needs".
The hotly contested Future Star award was won by Shahida Rajabdeen, a graduate quantity surveyor from Faithful+Gould, a member of the Atkins group.
“Having had the opportunity to experience different industries, the challenges faced by construction industry attracted me to choosing it as a career. I definitely think more women should consider construction as a career as the industry has a lot to offer at all levels.
““The last few years have been extremely challenging - but nevertheless, very rewarding. I have been juggling work, studying for the quantity surveyor chartership and an MSc along with family life. It’s a great privilege to win this award and I would like to thank my family, colleagues and clients for their immense support. I feel honoured and blessed - a truly fulfilling moment of recognition”.
Group HR director, Alun Griffiths said: “These awards are wonderful for highlighting our women and providing positive role models, both to those within Atkins and the wider industry, where women are playing an increasingly important and vital role. Women enhance our firepower and our ability to deliver, bringing such skills as collaboration, communication and partnership, as shown by these successful role models here today”.
Over 400 people from the built environment sector attended the Atkins sponsored awards being held at The Brewery near Moorgate. It attracted some exceptional entries from women drawn from all over the worlds of architecture, building services, commercial property, construction, engineering and quantity surveying.
ENDS
CONTACT:
Jane Sheils, PR Manager +44 (0)1372 752350
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Atkins is a multinational engineering and design consultancy, providing expertise to help resolve complex challenges presented by the built and natural environment. Atkins is the largest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe; the largest engineering consultancy in the UK; and the world’s fifth largest design firm.
Atkins won Engineering Consultant of the Year 2008 at the prestigious Building Awards. The company was named among the “20 Best Big Companies to Work For 2008’ by The Sunday Times; The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2007; and The Times Top 50 Companies Where Women Want to Work 2007. The company was construction sector winner for the third consecutive year in the Target National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2008.