Alex Evans, from Abergavenny, has been named the south west’s Most Promising Trainee Quantity Surveyor by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association.

She received the accolade as a result of her achievements as a trainee quantity surveyor with Alun Griffiths (Contractors) in Bristol.

The CECA South West Training Awards are presented annually to trainee civil engineers, apprentices and lifetime achievers in recognition of exceptional performance and dedication.

Alex won her award for her ability, professionalism and enthusiasm displayed across a range of projects, including the high profile £25m MetroBus Link project in the Bristol area, reaching standards of performance which belied her experience and impressed her colleagues and senior management at Griffiths.

Alex already had a degree in architecture when she decided on a change of career and a new lifestyle by enrolling on a Masters course in quantity surveying. She was then offered a trainee position with Alun Griffiths and hasn’t looked back.

She said: “I developed a passion for construction through architecture but realised that civil engineering would offer me the career and life choices I wanted, and with the support I continue to receive from my employers I know I have made the right decision. In time I aim to achieve chartered status.”

Jon Benton, chairman of CECA South West, said that he hoped more young people would carefully consider the exciting career prospects available in civil engineering.

He said: “Infrastructure construction in the south west is growing faster than any other region and, as a result, around 20,000 new jobs will be created over the next five years.

“This opens up lots of different career opportunities for young people, and it’s vital for the health of our regional economy that we excite school leavers and graduates about their prospects in our sector and the rewards on offer.”