Graduate Apprentice excels in national retrofit project

Dr Michael Tong (left) with James Marshall and Gavin Johnston, associate director of collaboration and commercial partnerships BE-ST.

James Marshall, a Graduate Apprenticeship student in BSc (Hons) Construction and the Built Environment (Quantity Surveying) working with Scottish Water, has been recognised for his outstanding achievement in project management.

His work on Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre (SNRC) project earned him the Project Management Analysis – Outstanding Achievement Award at the recent Energy Saving Awards.

The assignment was designed to give students an authentic, industry-based experience. Module leader for the Honours-level Project Management module, Dr Michael Tong, collaborated with Gavin Johnston, Project Manager and Associate Director (Collaborative and Commercial Partnerships) at BE-ST, Scotland’s national innovation centre for construction and the built environment.

By using a real construction project as the basis for the assignment, students such as James could apply theoretical knowledge to practical challenges while also exploring the critical role of retrofitting in Scotland’s journey towards net zero.

James’s submission impressed Gavin and the BE-ST team, standing out for its insight, clarity, and professional approach to project analysis.

Dr Tong said: “The recognition highlights the growing opportunities for students to engage directly with pioneering construction projects and to contribute to sustainable innovation in the built environment.”

James said: “Completing this assignment was a valuable experience because it connected the theory from the Project Management module with real challenges from the Scottish National Retrofit Centre development. Working on a live local project made the learning far more engaging, and having Gavin involved gave us real insight into not just what decisions were made, but why.

“The module has been highly relevant to my role at Scottish Water. Stakeholder engagement, communication, and risk management are all part of my day-to-day work as a Graduate Apprentice Quantity Surveyor, and the course has helped me better understand how to support Project Managers in delivering successful projects.

“With Scottish Water’s strong focus on sustainability and achieving net zero, the SNRC project closely aligns with both my professional role and my personal commitment to tackling climate change.”