Ten students from South Eastern Regional College (SERC) have received Edwin and Alan Dunlop Construction Awards, each worth a £250 gift voucher, for their performance on built environment programmes.

The awards were presented by Susan Montgomery and Stephen Dunlop, directors of Dunlop Group Enterprises Ltd, the company that sponsors the scheme. The firm was founded by brothers Edwin and Alan Dunlop, both former students of Bangor Technical College, which later became part of SERC.

Trevor Breadon, head of the school of construction and the built environment at SERC, said lecturers nominated students who were then assessed on attendance, effort, course performance, contribution to the programme or workplace, and personal development and resilience.

Stephen Dunlop and Susan Montgomery said the company has a long history with the college and it was reassuring to hear about the next generation gaining qualifications for careers in construction. They encouraged recipients to keep learning.

The award recipients were Lindsay Faulkner (fire and security, Level 3 apprenticeship, Newtownards campus), Jennifer Gilchrist (construction studies, Level 3 extended diploma, Downpatrick campus), Conaire Small (motor vehicle, Level 3 apprenticeship, Downpatrick campus), Fergal Gilmore (brickwork, Level 2 apprenticeship, Newtownards campus), David Johnston (plastering, Level 3 apprenticeship, Lisburn campus), David Magee (joinery, Level 3 apprenticeship, Lisburn campus), Mason Hamilton (construction maintenance, Level 2 traineeship, Newtownards campus), Carl Hughes (plumbing, Level 3 apprenticeship, Newtownards campus), James Reilly (refrigeration, Level 3 apprenticeship, Lisburn campus), and Niamh Allen (electrical installation, Level 3 apprenticeship, Lisburn campus). Ms Allen, who was unable to attend, had her award collected by Mr Breadon.

Applications for full-time and part-time courses at SERC starting in September 2026 are now open.