Published: 07 May 2013
The Survey Association (TSA), the trade body for the UK’s commercial survey companies, has named Alison Watson, director of the education company Class of Your Own (COYO), the winner of TSA’s President’s Award 2013.
Graham Mills, President of TSA and Chairman of Technics Group said that Alison had made an outstanding contribution to the industry through the creation and delivery of challenging school projects that were igniting young minds about the building process.
Graham Mills commented, “It is essential in a very technical world – and for the future recruitment needs of our member companies – that we encourage more young people to follow careers in surveying, engineering, design and construction.
“Strategic partnerships established by COYO give young people industry support to be decision makers and problem solvers on real building projects. Using the professional’s tools and software and with BIM part of their vocabulary, the next generation is being inspired to enter the construction industry.”
Alison Watson, a former land surveyor, established Class of Your Own with architect Dan Gibson in 2009 and is the creator of the innovative Design, Engineer Construct! curriculum. www.classofyourown.com
COYO projects have given upper primary and secondary school students from the Scottish Highlands to London the opportunity to be the planners, surveyors, designers, engineers and project managers on their own sustainable building projects and to understand how maths, science and technology have practical applications in the real world.
On receiving her award, Alison commented, “I am honoured that an organisation synonymous with best practice in the surveying industry has given Class of Your Own this recognition. It is encouraging to think that TSA members could be employing our students in years to come.”
Sponsored by Lockton, the President’s Award includes a £100 donation to a chosen charity. At Alison’s request the cash will benefit The Young Oncology Unit at Christies Hospital Withington, Manchester and is given in memory of Ryan Dover who died in November 2012 after a 2- year battle with cancer.
For further Information about The Survey Association www.tsa-uk.org.uk
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For further information, interviews or images contact Ruth Badley PR on 01423 884063 or 07929 420 360 or email ruth.badley@btconnect.com
Notes to Editors
The Survey Association, known generally as TSA, is the trade body for commercial survey companies in the UK. The association was formed in 1979 to give a focus for private sector businesses in land and hydrographic survey.
The association has over 140 companies in membership as full, associate, supplier, affiliate or academic members directly involved in the survey business. The full and associate member companies together employ over 2500 people.
The role of TSA is to promote best practice amongst its members, provide a forum for members for discussion, debate and continuing professional development and to the wider audience such as engineers, provide guidance on new methods and techniques and a list of suitably qualified and experienced companies.
TSA is also heavily involved in lobbying Government and other agencies such as the Environment Agency regarding policies likely to affect or involve the survey industry.
TSA meets regularly with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) on a range of issues and has established the Survey Liaison Group (SLG). This body convenes at regular intervals to examine matters of mutual interest and to ensure that there is little or no duplication of effort by the three bodies
