Demolition degree students scoop construction awards

A pioneering University of Wolverhampton degree course was recognised at a national awards ceremony recently when three of its students scooped a specialist excellence award.

Director of AR Demolition and recently elected Vice President of the Institute of Demolition Engineers (IDE), Richard Dolman, has been at the forefront of developing and championing the first Master’s Degree course in Demolition Management in the UK which is offered by the University and is studying on the course along with two of his colleagues.

The Nuneaton based business director has also helped to develop and promote the first Foundation Degree in Demolition and is sponsoring three members of the AR Demolition team to gain the qualification at the University.

His contribution was recognised in the Construction News Specialist Awards (CNSA) 2019 where the company won the category of Demolition Specialist of the Year as well as the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Excellence Award.

The three employees are studying for the Master’s degree part-time in the University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment.  Richard said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have won this prestigious award.

“The training and retention of skilled labour throughout the industry is currently a significant challenge to most built environment-based businesses and is high on the agenda for construction-based industries.

“At ARD we understand the implications of the skills gap and are endeavouring to be industry leaders in addressing this issue.

“We believe the CNSA awards help to show case the best innovative thinking around construction management and have inspired us as a company to strive for new initiatives and new training solutions.” 

Paul Hampton, Head of Built Environment at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “It’s down to the valuable input of the Institute of Demolition Engineers (IDE) and business leaders like Richard, that we were able to launch the UK’s first Demolition Management degree two years ago.

“The Master’s course is being taught at the City Campus in Wolverhampton to a range of demolition industry leaders and we will be offering the Undergraduate degree course from September this year, providing a pathway from Foundation level through to Master’s degree level for industry members.”

The judges said: “AR Demolition has positioned themselves not only as a leading specialist demolition contractor, but also as a centre of best practice and workplace culture that many in the wider construction sector could learn from.”

AR Demolition was shortlisted for the award for demonstrating a number of initiatives under the banner ‘Growing Our Own Talent’ which included links with local schools and colleges, being involved in open days and education recruitment events as well as supporting and training employees and providing work placement opportunities for students.

Anyone interested in studying for one of the Demolition degrees should check out the course page.

Picture caption from left to right:  Demolition Master's Degree students Michael Henderson, Richard Dolman and Patricia Sloneczny.

ENDS