YELVERTON student Andrew Kennedy has beaten off strong competition to be the winner of the Best Industrial Placement Experience Award, sponsored by the leading recruitment experts Hays Construction.

The 27-year-old who is studying construction management at Oxford Brookes University received the prestigious award at a prize giving ceremony at the university, where he was presented with a framed certificate and present vouchers. Director at Hays, Rob Fry, said: 'This prize is a small step to reward the next generation for their hard work, it is great to support students pursuing career in construction management.'