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 2023-24 academic year, the prize has been awarded to trainee quantity surveyor, Jack

who joined Clark Contracts in 2019, initially completing a modern apprenticeship in Surveying, before progressing to complete his Graduate Apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying at Edinburgh Napier University which allowed him to gain hands-on experience in the industry, whilst completing his degree. He has been awarded the Alan Calder prize for his performance in his final year of his degree and recently graduated in November 2024.

Jack has been involved in the delivery of a variety of projects with the main contractor including the construction of Ian MacLeod Distillers’ new HQ - Peter Russell House in Broxburn, Huxley Studios student accommodation in Edinburgh and a B&Q store in Galashiels.

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.”