The award was established in 2008 following the passing of Clark Contracts employee, Alan Calder. Alan, a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, joined Clark Contracts in 2004, as General Manager of the company’s divisions for Small Works, Insurance and Maintenance.

From 2008 until 2019, it was presented to the Top Final Year Student at Glasgow Caledonian University’s School of Engineering and the Built Environment annual prize-giving.

From 2020, this has been an in-house award presented annually to the top-performing student from the contractor’s award-wining Academy, with the winner selected using a number of factors, including academic results, attitude to studies, university attendance and feedback from university.

For the 2022-23 academic year, the prize has been awarded to the assistant site manager delivering the refurbishment and extension of the Category B listed Paisley Arts Centre, who joined Clark Contracts in 2022, to complete a six-month work placement as part of his BSc (Hons) degree in Construction Management at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Upon completion of this placement, he joined the contractor on a permanent basis, and completed the remainder of his degree on a part time basis, whilst gaining valuable hands-on experience. He has been awarded the Alan Calder prize for his performance in his third year of his degree and aims to graduate in 2025.

Gordon Cunningham, managing director of Clark Contracts, said: “It is an honour to present this award again, in memory of former colleague, Alan Calder, who was committed to the development of young people throughout the industry.”