A NORTH-EAST engineer has become the inaugural winner of a national award from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).

Matt Taylor, who works for civil engineering firm Atkins’ Stockton office, is the first winner of ICE’s Jean Venables Medal.

The award recognises and celebrates the best performance by a newly-qualified technician member at a Technician Professional Review.

The medal is named after Jean Venables, ICE president from 2008 to 2009, who contributed significantly to raising the profile of ICE technician members and who continues to actively participate in the initiative.

Stephen Larkin, regional director of ICE North-East, said: “Just one medal is awarded during a calendar year and winning the award does great credit to Matt and the training he received from Atkins. We are very proud that a North-East member has become the first to achieve this.”

Mr Taylor sat his review at last year’s autumn session in York. He was top out of more than 60 technician candidates in the spring and autumn sessions in the country.