Grŵp Llandrillo Menai plastering tutor receives prestigious award: recognising his positive impact on students and the industry
Richard Jones, plastering teacher at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos on Sea campus, received the Lifetime Contribution to Training accolade at the recent national Plastering and Interior Trades Training Awards.
Held annually, the awards are a collaboration between Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) and the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers to recognise achievement and excellence in the plastering and interior fit-out sector.
Commenting on the award, Richard said: “This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my fellow colleagues.”
Mentor and confidence builder
A “lifetime of hard work and quiet integrity,” is how colleagues sum up Richard’s impact at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.
With 40 years worth of plastering experience, Richard has been inspiring construction students at Coleg Llandrillo for 22 years. Generous with knowledge, he is well respected by students and staff alike. His calm nature puts students at ease and also helps him guide and mentor new staff. Richard’s colleagues comment that he goes above and beyond being a tutor, describing hims as “a bridge between the classroom and the real world”.
Dedicated to helping his students develop and become skilled plasterers, Richard has created strong ties with local employers, keeping up to date with key industry trends and ensuring students have the confidence and tools they need to kick start their careers in the industry.
Richard also commits his time to helping his students enter competitions. Under his mentorship, Coleg Llandrillo learners have gone on to win prestigious awards, including Plaster of the Year at the FIS Training Awards, growing their skills and gaining a sense of achievement and pride in their work.
“He doesn’t just teach students how to be great plasterers; he teaches them to be great people,” said one colleague.
Changing the face of construction
Richard is also a champion of inclusion and diversity in plastering, traditionally seen as a career route for young men. His peers comment that if we are to encourage people of all backgrounds, ages and ability to join construction, “it simply can’t be done without people like Richard.”
One of Richard’s former students includes a woman looking for a career change. She said: “Richard didn’t treat me as someone ‘too old’ to be starting a new career; he saw potential. There’s something special about Richard’s influence at the college; he’s created an environment where women in an often male-dominated field can excel.”
Paul Flanagan, Principal at Coleg Llandrillo, said: “We are delighted that Richard’s achievements and contribution to Grŵp Llandrillo Menai have been recognised with this Lifetime Contribution award. His impact on students past and present is far-reaching. His dedication to helping students reach their full potential and preparing them for a fulfilling career in a fast-changing industry means that the next generation of plasterers to come through our doors are in very safe hands.”
If you are interested in becoming a plaster or just looking to gain a new skill, you can find out more about our construction courses and career pathways here: https://www.gllm.ac.uk/courses/construction-and-the-built-environment