TALENTED students are building a future for themselves at York College.

At the college's annual Construction Awards Ceremony, students were rewarded for achieving excellence in their respective fields; carpentry and joinery, surveying, brickwork, stonemasonry, electrical, painting and decorating and plumbing.

The prize-giving ceremony was based on the theme of Tradition With Innovation, highlighting the traditional construction crafts combined with new innovative work. There were 49 awards sponsored by the region's construction employers.

The event began with a formal welcome by principal Dr Alison Birkinshaw, followed by the presentation of individual awards by Dr Jane Grenville, pro-vice chancellor for students at the University of York.

Stonemasonry student Leonie Driver, 25, was among the winners. She won three separate awards: the Peter Moore Masonry Award, the York Consortium Award and the City & Guilds Medals Of Excellence.

Kevin Clancy, curriculum leader for construction crafts, said: "This event provides an opportunity to celebrate outstanding work by the students and trainees, not to mention the staff from the construction department at York College.

"We are delighted to congratulate those students who have excelled in their particular field and to see students progress through to higher levels of education and employment."

The new £60 million college opened in September last year and is a major provider of education and training in the region, with 3,500 full-time students and 9,000 part-time students.

The college also provides education and training to 3,000 employers across the region and is a Centre of Vocational Excellence for stonemasonry, rail engineering and signal engineering, hospitality and catering and tourism.

The Press revealed last week the importance of York College to the city's economy.

A report by Economic Modeling Specialists Inc said the college's activities created long-term economic growth, enhanced worker skills and provided training opportunities to business and industry.

It estimated that the present day workforce in York and North Yorkshire holds about approximately 58,600 qualifications gained by past and present York College learners.