Chartered Institute of Building - Sir Ian Dixon Scholars Announced

Daphne Denijs ICIOB of Sir Robert McAlpine and Gemma Jones ICIOB of Laing O'Rourke were recently awarded the 2006 Sir Ian Dixon Scholarship.
Founded in 1998, the Sir Ian Dixon Scholarship is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in conjunction with the Worshipful Company of Constructors, and offers an annual scholarship of £2,000. The winning students undertake a 12-month study of a construction management topic.
Daphne Denijs, a 25-year-old graduate from Hanzehogeschool Groningen, The Netherlands, is currently employed as a package manager by Sir Robert McAlpine as part of the company's graduate programme. Supported by Sir Robert McAlpine, Daphne will be undertaking research into the comparison of UK and Dutch approaches to management behaviour and implementation of health and safety on similar construction sites.
"Health and Safety attitudes have a significant effect in the construction industry," said Daphne. "I am delighted to have been awarded the scholarship and am looking forward to undertaking this valuable piece of research into an area of such importance. A construction site is an ever-changing environment and many different parties need to work together in to create a successful project. It is important in this process to increase the parties awareness of Health and Safety and reduce accidents and incident rates within the industry. "
Gemma Jones, a 26-year-old graduate of Wolverhampton University, is currently employed by Laing O'Rourke as an Assistant Design Manager having completed the Laing O'Rourke Graduate Management Programme. Supported by Laing O'Rourke, Gemma will be undertaking research into retained and existing estates versus new build in PFI healthcare, to help aid contractors and the NHS when developing healthcare for the future.
"Retained estate within PFI for healthcare is an area of risk within the construction industry" said Gemma. "I feel honoured to have been awarded the Sir Ian Dixon Scholarship and hope that my research will be of great value, not only to myself and Laing O'Rourke, but also to the construction industry and NHS in terms of future healthcare ventures. The construction industry needs to understand retained/existing buildings and their value compared to new build within PFI, as the new buildings we construct today will eventually become the retained estate of tomorrow".
Bob Heathfield, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, said, "On behalf of the CIOB and the Worshipful Company of Constructors I am delighted that the Scholars are focussing on Health and Safety and PFI. These are areas of interest to all and will assist with raising standards within the Industry. It is of fundamental importance that we promote and inspire talented young professionals to drive research in such important areas. I look forward to the conclusions of their research."

Email: stownsend@ciob.org.uk