Degree Apprentice of the Year

Josh Beattie, Stantec

Josh is a degree apprentice working for Stantec’s Infrastructure division, where he has tirelessly sought to develop himself, others and the industry as a whole. His designs for a first-of-its-kind containment system for potentially contaminated firewater at a battery energy storage system demonstrate his keen interest in protecting people and the environment, solving challenging engineering problems and developing state of the art solutions for some of the most significant infrastructure projects in the UK. Also, his dedication to helping repair our depleted ecosystems through his research into how the UK can better implement regenerative design shows his commitment to ensuring the construction industry is as beneficial to all as it can be.

Hannah Hart, AtkinsRéalis

Hannah has significantly impacted the industry by driving innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. Her work on Debris Screens has led to environmentally responsible and cost-effective solutions, including design improvements which reduce concrete usage and significantly enhance public safety. Identifying gaps, she's developed several tools to improve efficiency, reduce rework and improve client satisfaction. Being responsible for signing off the Public Safety Risk Assessments, Hannah ensures the designs are safe and compliant with guidance. Beyond project work, she's participated in several STEM outreach events, mentored colleagues and actively promotes inclusivity in engineering. As a committee member of the ICE South West Neurodiversity Network, she actively raises dyslexia awareness, leading initiatives to improve accessibility and understanding in the workplace.Recognised as a finalist for the ICE South West Apprentice of the Year 2024, Hannah's commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, inspiring future engineers, and inclusivity is shaping the future of Civil Engineering.

Timothy McCaughey, Translink

Timothy is a professionally qualified Technician Member of the ICE and a Degree Apprentice from Northern Ireland. Through his Degree Apprenticeship Timothy works as an Apprentice Civil Engineering Technician for Translink (Northern Ireland Railways) whilst also studying towards a MEng in Civil Engineering at Ulster University. Through his apprenticeship Timothy has gained a wide range of experience particularly in structural applications. Over the past year Timothy has been instrumental in the development of the company's drainage management capabilities providing input to the strategic direction of the companies drainage asset management plan, a key role in resilience building as increasingly frequent storm events, the effects of climate change, are felt across Northern Ireland's railway network.

Dawood Shoaib, AtkinsRéalis

Dawood Shoaib has redefined what an apprentice can achieve. Leading the implementation of Low Water Commissioning (LWC) on part of the Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA), a process which reduced carbon by 99%, earning industry awards including the Carbon Net Zero Initiative of the Year and Water Industry's Groundbreaker Award. He’s trusted to conduct independent site visits and manage construction issues across 130km of pipeline, Dawood has broken age barriers, taking on responsibilities typically reserved for experienced professionals.Beyond his technical contributions, Dawood developed digital tools to track embodied carbon, embedding sustainability into design decisions, and leads the Lessons Learnt initiative within AtkinsRéalis. He mentors colleagues, supports early career peers, and volunteers in schools to inspire the next generation of engineers. Recognised as a finalist for the 2025 ICE Rising Star Award, Dawood's achievements reflect the ambition, skill, and dedication the NCE Degree Apprentice of the Year Award celebrates.

Muaaz Ul-Haq, Bam UK&I

What I have always loved about being a Civil Engineering Degree Apprentice is the idea of contributing to major infrastructure projects that connect communities and improve lives. Civil engineers often work behind the scenes, yet their impact is long-lasting, shaping cities and transport networks.Whenever I get the Cable Car across the River Thames, I love the idea about knowing about all of the complex civil engineering works below the surface that took place to build the Silvertown Tunnel, now all covered and hidden from the public eye.Knowing that I had an active contribution to building East London’s newest River Crossing is a personal accomplishment that continues to light the passion of my day-to-day role and will stay with me for the rest of my civil engineering career.