Implemented in 2014, the Student Development Award encourages local students aiming to study Civil Engineering, Business Management or Arboriculture to further their education at university. In addition the Award seeks to continually develop links between Geosynthetics Limited and local Schools and Colleges. Each year the recipient of the award receives a £1000 bursary and a paid internship to be completed in the summer for the remainder of their time at university.

The first recipient of the Student Development Award; Dan Ridout, recently returned to Geosynthetics Limited for his third summer internship. Dan who is currently studying Civil Engineering at Plymouth University has already completed two internships since 2014 with Geosynthetics Limited Dan commented “I was warmly welcomed into the Geosynthetics Limited team from day one. I found shadowing design engineers to be incredibly valuable allowing me to apply what I had learned at university.”

In addition to practical training, Dan was able to stay in contact with the engineering team at Geosynthetics Limited which allowed him to gain “advice and academic support from design engineers.” This helped Dan to achieve first class honours throughout his first and second year of studying. Dan’s practical experience coupled with supporting documents and references from Geosynthetics Limited employees enabled Dan to secure a highly respected placement during his ‘year in industry’ with Transport for London.

Everyone at Geosynthetics Limited is incredibly proud of Dan’s development throughout the time he has been a recipient of the Student Award Program.

“The experiences I have had at Geosynthetics have helped me progress into the first stages of becoming a Civil Engineer, the support I have received is immeasurable and I look forward to my next and final placement with Geosynthetics Limited” – Dan Ridout

Doug Morley, the second recipient of the Student Development Award will be starting his 4 week internship next week.