Principal Engineer | Ramboll UK

Category: Design Excellence

Nominated by: Simon Banfield, Director, Commercial Sector Lead

Steve has taken on the Project Engineer role on One North Quay, Europe’s largest commercial laboratory building, incorporating nearly 60,000m³ of concrete. He been instrumental in driving sustainability and low-carbon concrete innovation. During the design stages, Steve helped deliver savings of approximately 20,000 tCO₂e. He challenged the brief in concept design, reducing basement depth and optimising floor vibration criteria. Throughout detailed design, he assessed carbon intensity of elements, focusing effort where the greatest reductions could be achieved. This included refining slab depths, removing low-utilisation piles, and embedding a low-carbon concrete specification. Steve also pioneered the creation of the Low Carbon Structure Plan. This document introduces a new approach to specifying low-carbon concrete, using a whole-project carbon budget that enables seasonal mix optimisation and reduces reliance on GGBS while maintaining sustainability targets. Crucially, it establishes requirements for live tracking and reporting of as-built carbon on site, allowing real-time intervention rather than retrospective assessment. Steve has shared the lessons from this work with the wider industry through talks at organisations including The Concrete Centre, Civil Engineers Declare and Footprint+. Beyond carbon, Steve advanced industry thinking on biodiversity by working with the supply chain to map out the various quarries, chalk deposits, etc that made up the project’s concrete components. He distilled this complex data into a clear infographic, helping build wider understanding of ecological impacts. Overall, Steve has significantly advanced industry practice in low-carbon concrete design, live carbon tracking and ecological awareness through his work on One North Quay.

Technical Manager | Brett Concrete

Category: Materials Specialist

Nominated by: Nominated by: John Reddy, President, Institute of Concrete Technology

The ICT is proud to nominate Dr. Harshita Garg for the Materials Specialist category of the Emerging Talent Award. In her role at Brett, Harshita plays a key part in operational success and technical development. She has delivered improvements in mix design, quality control and technical standards, overcoming complex challenges with a resilient, solutions-focused approach by utilising her material knowledge and analytical skills. Her expertise has supported major projects including Portsmouth Naval Base and Eurotunnel, where her innovative use of low-carbon, high-performance and high early-strength concrete achieved specified strengths within 28 days and helped Brett secure these contracts. Harshita’s in-depth understanding of material behaviour has driven measurable improvements in material consistency and performance across 19 Brett plants, delivering long-term operational and sustainability benefits. Previously at Macrete, Harshita designed high-performance precast concrete mixes for nationally significant infrastructure projects such as HS2, Hinkley Point C and Rhyl Sea Defence, across multiple unit types. She also introduced strength-monitoring sensors to confirm safe winter lifting, achieving zero failures while improving productivity and safety. Harshita’s rapid professional progression and attainment of AMICT status reflect her commitment to the highest industry standards. Beyond her technical achievements, she is passionate about inspiring future professionals. As a founding member of the ICT Student and Young Professionals Group (SYPro) and author of a children’s comic and puzzle book on concrete, she demonstrates outstanding leadership, ambition and dedication to education and outreach. Harshita is a distinguished young professional who consistently demonstrates technical excellence, innovation and leadership within her role.

Graduate Materials Engineer | Balfour Beatty

Category: Materials Specialist

Nominated by: Steve Phipps, Head of Materials Engineering

William Brentnall joined Balfour Beatty in September 2024 as a graduate materials engineer working on the HS2 main civils works contract covering 90km in the midlands known as IPT Area North. Gaining knowledge of concrete technology at an impressively fast pace, William took on responsibility for managing technical approval of new materials, obtaining and submitting all certification required for designer and client sign off. William took over management of the project digital monitoring and measurement system, reviewing data and trends providing feedback to suppliers to improve fresh concrete consistency of deliveries and delivering numerous training briefings across the project to ensure ongoing successful use. William also manages the project concrete maturity monitoring system, ensuring calibration for all mixes required. He has provided guidance and extensive training on the use of maturity monitoring across the project. William has taken the use of concrete maturity monitoring a stage further, managing an extensive R&D program to explore its use to replace standard identity testing by concrete cube specimens. This research which William will present at this year’s show, demonstrates the successful use of digitising control of hardened concrete to establish in-situ strength across a range of variables including mix types, seasonal variations and element thickness William’s personal commitment and communication have played a key part in the successful delivery of these digital controls. His knowledge will be essential in implementing these digital controls as he joins another major infrastructure project, continuing his development and shaping the way that concrete is controlled in future. 

Area Technical Manager | Heidelberg Materials UK 

Category: Materials Specialist

Nominated by: Nick Graham, Regional Technical Manager

Hannah joined Heidelberg Materials in 2017 through our Graduate Programme. Following rotation through various departments, Hannah decided that the career pathway that best suited her attributes and interests was within the Concrete Technical department. Hannah accepted the role of Concrete Technician looking after several major projects in Central Manchester. In 2020, Hannah progressed to Area Technical Manager with responsibility for 20 production units throughout the North West region. Her roles include quality and production controls, ensuring compliance to industry standards and mix optimisation. One of these units; which is the same facility where Hannah was previously a technician, is a dedicated plant exclusively suppling a Heidelberg Materials key customer. This customer has transformed the Manchester skyline over the last decade. During Hannahs time in her role a total of 8 towers, totalling 392 storeys and resulting in the creation of over 4000 apartments have been constructed using over 300,000m3 of reinforced concrete. Hannahs daily involvement with these projects can’t be underestimated; she manages quality control and creates suitable mix designs to onerous specification. She provides concrete solutions for mass pours, self-compacting concrete and high strength concretes in excess of 100N/mm2, in some cases with the requirement for pumping vertically over 180m. A major factor to Hannahs success is her practical and proactive approach. Hannahs rise from new industry recruit to having the knowledge, skillset and ability to technically oversee projects of this scale make her an excellent candidate for this award. 

Batching and Quality Control | Essex Precast Ltd 

Category: Precast & Offsite

Nominated by: Rob Ingram, Group Sales and Managing Director

Tom Weston is an exceptional candidate for the Emerging Talent Award at the UKCS 2026, demonstrating remarkable capability, maturity, and vision far beyond his years. Since stepping into his new role at our purpose built batching facility, TITAN PROCAST, Tom has embraced every challenge with unwavering commitment and an impressive drive to excel. What makes Tom stand out is not only his willingness to take on significant responsibility, but the confidence and competence with which he has made the role his own. From day one, Tom has shown a deep understanding of our company’s goals and the broader vision behind TITAN PROCAST. He has consistently offered valuable input into the plant’s operations, demonstrating both technical awareness and a keen ability to identify opportunities for improvement. His impact on our output, efficiency, and the high-quality finish of our products has been transformative, contributing directly to measurable gains across the board. A defining moment in Tom’s journey has been his involvement in the commissioning of the new plant — a complex, high-pressure process that he approached with professionalism and an eagerness to learn. His contribution during this critical phase reflected not only his talent but his potential as a future leader within the industry. Tom’s dedication, proactive attitude, and natural problem-solving abilities position him as a standout emerging talent in UK concrete manufacturing. His rapid development and meaningful impact make him a highly deserving winner of the UKCS 2026 Emerging Talent Award.

Research and Development Associate | Leiths (Scotland) Ltd 

Category: Sustainability

Nominated by: Nominated by: John Reddy, President, Institute of Concrete Technology

Ansu Mary Alex is a sustainability-driven materials specialist delivering measurable impact in one of the construction industry’s most carbon-intensive materials. By integrating sustainability, chemistry, innovation, and industrial application, her work demonstrates how concrete can actively support Net Zero ambitions rather than hinder them. As a Concrete Technologist at Moore Concrete Products previously, she led the technical development of low-carbon binder systems, alkali-activated materials, and alternative reinforcement solutions. Her expertise in cement chemistry and fresh concrete behaviour enabled the scalable adoption of low-carbon technologies within live manufacturing environments, reducing reliance on traditional Portland cement while maintaining performance, durability, and regulatory compliance. She translated laboratory innovation into industry-ready solutions. She also developed an ESG Matrix, providing a structured framework to assess environmental, social, and governance risks and opportunities across products and operations. This tool supports evidence-based decision-making, aligns innovation with Net Zero targets, and strengthens long-term sustainability strategy. Her sustainability leadership has been recognised through honours including Northern Ireland Climate Change Maker (2024), Belfast Telegraph 30 Under 30 (2025), and KTP Innovation Awards – UK National Finalist (2025). Ansu now works as a Research and Development Associate at Leiths Scotland Ltd, supporting the development of low-carbon construction materials. Her role includes advancing alternatives to conventional cement-bound solutions, providing materials chemistry expertise, supporting a new chemistry laboratory, and contributing to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for transparent environmental assessment. She is an active member of The Institute of Concrete Technology Student and Young Professionals Network and is recognised as a young leader shaping the future of sustainable construction materials.