A WOMAN from Sabden has been nominated for an award for developing a learning programme about construction for high school students.

Alison Watson, 44, co-founded Class Of Your Own Limited, based in Clitheroe, and created “Design Engineer Construct”.

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The course teaches a range of skills from planning, sustainability and client engagement and is registered as a GCSE equivalent.

It is suited to secondary school children who are interested in careers in architecture, engineering, and construction.

Mrs Watson has now been nominated for a Hero of Construction award for the North West region.

The category is part of the Pride of Construction Awards, which is annually given out by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

Mrs Watson, who was a land surveyor for 24 years before starting up the course, said it was scary to be nominated for a big award.

She said: “We want to change perspectives that engineering isn’t just bricklaying at a college, it’s so much more, it covers a variety of different areas.

“It should be seen as a quality area like medicine or law, not seen as a ‘last attempt’ to be successful.

“We have a very hard working tight team in the Ribble Valley and they are all very passionate about the subject.

“It’s so good hearing the feedback we get off people. I get calls off parents and teachers across the country saying their children are enjoying the course and it’s music to my ears.”

Carole Teacher, business development director for Class of Your Own, said: “Alison’s aim is to make a difference. A difference to the lives and aspirations of youngsters from all walks of life, a difference to the way construction is perceived by teachers and parents and a difference to the future of our industry.

“Alison’s determination and ability to tackle long-held attitudes in education, government and industry has won her many supporters in influential positions. She rarely takes ‘no’ for an answer.”

Mick Hamill, CITB’s regional delivery manager for the north, said: “Alison is a great example of what the Pride of Construction awards are designed to celebrate – talented, hard-working people helping to improve communities and inspire the next generation of workers.

This year’s Pride of Construction awards ceremony is set to take place on Wednesday November 25 at the Natural History Museum in London.