Builders’ merchant Jewson has named Carley Doolan as the winner of its Young Tradesperson of the Year competition.

The judges noted that Ms Doolan, aged 27, from Newcastle, is a hugely talented and focused young tradesperson who sets a fantastic example to others working in the construction industry. A Level 2 Plastering apprentice, Ms Doolan expertly balances her time between college and being a mum to two-year-old daughter, Layla.

Ms Doolan said: “I’m absolutely over the moon. I’ve tried my hand in a number of trades and been given some fantastic opportunities, but this is definitely the icing on the cake. Like many in the industry, I’ve struggled to get by while work has dried up, but I kept on pushing, learning new skills and doing odd jobs here and there. I finally feel like all my effort is paying off.”

The panel of industry experts featured Andy Barrie from online builders community ‘On The Tools’, Liz Male, chair of quality assurer TrustMark, journalist Fiona Russell-Horne and Donna Rostovsky from Osma.

As well as the title Young Tradesperson of the Year, Ms Doolan will now enjoy a holiday to Barcelona, complete with tickets to a football match at Camp Nou, and £1,000 worth of tools.

David Fenton, marketing director at Jewson said: “Selecting a winner was no easy task but Carley is a fantastic example of the young talent in the industry. Her success goes to show that hard work and motivation can go a long way in laying the foundations for a career in construction.”