Glayne Price from Devon-based LHC Architecture + Urbanism has been named Best Woman Architectural Technologist in ‘The European Women in Construction and Engineering Awards’ 2016 (WICE Awards).
Company Director Glayne is one of 21 elite women from across Europe who have been selected as WICE Award winners following a two-month judging process.
Based in LHC’s Exeter studio, Glayne has worked for LHC for over 25 years, starting her career as a Junior Graduate Technician. Over the years, her commitment and enthusiasm has seen her climb the ladder to the senior team, where she now acts as a mentor for junior staff following in her footsteps.
Glayne was inspired by her father, but thanks her careers advisor at school who encouraged her to pursue a career within the construction industry. Glayne explains: “Originally I had planned to follow my dad into the Navy as a draughts person but the entry qualifications were out of my reach as I wasn’t a natural academic. It was thanks to my careers teacher who suggested a BTEC OND in Building Studies at Plymouth College of Further Education which was the gateway to me joining The Company of Designers in Plymouth as a Junior Graduate Technician. The Company of Designers later became LHC.”
The WICE Awards have been designed to find the most exemplary women within construction and engineering across Europe and to promote the importance of women within the industry and the wide range of roles available. Glayne’s award recognises her knowledge, motivation and dedication to the industry. She said: “To be chosen as one of Europe’s leading women in construction is such an honour, but more than that, these awards help to encourage and inspire a younger generation to follow their ambition. They prove that women can get to the very top in this industry which will, hopefully, increase awareness of the wealth of opportunities available within a sector which has traditionally been very male dominated.”
Now a committee member of South West Women in Construction (SWWIC) and, until recently, Secretary of the Devon and Cornwall Branch of the Concrete Society, Glayne is committed to encouraging more young people to choose a career in construction and engineering and has been involved in an Ambassador Programme specifically targeting 16-18 year olds run by South West Women in Construction.
Glayne continued: “I always loved drawing so becoming an architectural technologist was a natural choice for me and I was encouraged all the way by my parents. There are so many fascinating jobs available from building design to engineering and everything in between.”
During her time at LHC, Glayne has worked on a wide range of projects across the South West region and further afield including the award-winning Horizon development in Budleigh Salterton, the brand new £22m JCB Academy in Staffordshire from a Grade 2* listed building, and the multi-million pound regeneration scheme, Home@Heartlands, in Pool, Redruth.
Glayne was nominated by LHC Equity Directors John Baulch and Rob Bramhall with Nigel Blackman providing testimonial to Glayne’s ability in the category of Best Woman Architectural Technologist. Nigel, who retired from LHC in 2014, was Glayne’s mentor from the time she joined LHC at the age of 18. In his submission to the judging panel, Nigel wrote: “Glayne started her architectural career in 1990 as a trainee technician. She showed immense promise from the outset with a thirst for knowledge, a keenness to learn everything she could about construction and a willingness to assume responsibility for whatever task she tackled. Glayne was identified as one of our rising stars and in her early 30s she was promoted to an Associate, running her own team and forming part of the management team. She was made a Director of LHC some six years ago and is now jointly responsible for managing the wellbeing, resource planning, workload and supervision of the architectural team in the Exeter office, as well as mentoring junior staff.”
He continued: “Having known Glayne for more than 25 years and enjoyed working alongside her for most of that time, I am delighted that she has been awarded Best Woman Architectural Technologist. Glayne’s loyalty to LHC is phenomenal and her recognition within the company, the region and the industry is testament to the role she plays and the skill and service she provides to her peers and her clients.”
For more information about LHC visit www.lhc.net or follow @LHCArchitecture. To find out more about The European Women In Construction & Engineering Awards visit wiceawards.com/.
