HIGHLY COMMENDED: Tarun May, The Ron Simmonds Construction Trade Apprentice of the Year 2026

A huge congratulations to Tarun May for being Highly Commended for The Ron Simmonds Construction Trade Apprentice of the Year Award, 2026.  

Tarun is currently completing his NVQ Level 3 Bricklaying apprenticeship with The Plym Group Ltd, in partnership with Greenlight Safety and Training. Since beginning his training, he has successfully achieved his NVQ Level 2 in Bricklaying as well as a ProQual Level 3 qualification in the inspection and testing of firestopping installations.  

Upon receiving the award, Tarun said “It’s a privilege to be commended for this award. I’ve been lucky to work alongside some amazing people, and I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned from them.” 

From the outset, Tarun has impressed with his ability to progress quickly and confidently. Completing both his NVQ Level 2 Bricklaying and his fire safety qualification earlier than expected, he has transferred this knowledge into the workplace with genuine maturity. He approaches every task safely, follows procedures carefully, and demonstrates a clear understanding of the responsibility that comes with working in fire safety and bricklaying. His development has been steady, reliable, and consistently above the level expected at this stage of training.  

Tarun is known for his outstanding reliability and strong work ethic. His attendance record is exemplary — he’s never off, always early, and arrives each day ready to work hard. He listens, learns quickly, and performs well under pressure. He doesn’t drink, but he can put away seven out of ten portions of chicken nuggets and chips without losing focus… a light-hearted example of the same determination he applies to his work.  

Before officially joining the Building Plymouth Aspiring Rising Talent Network (BPART) network this year, Tarun took the initiative to run a bricklaying session for the previous year’s cohort, receiving excellent feedback for his patience, clarity, and ability to teach others. His confidence and professionalism during that session showed a natural ability to mentor fellow learners.  

Tarun continues to demonstrate the core qualities of an exceptional construction apprentice. With his NVQ Level 2 and Fire Safety qualifications already completed — and his NVQ Level 3 Bricklaying now underway — he brings strong technical ability to site each day, paired with a willingness to learn and an impressive degree of personal responsibility.  

His involvement with the BPART has further highlighted his commitment. With attendance over 90%, he has shown real engagement and was the only trade apprentice in this year’s group. Despite this, he represented his trade brilliantly, offering a valuable hands on perspective and enriching discussions with insights from the construction site.  

Tarun’s passion for his trade, combined with his reliability, resilience, and positive influence on others, makes him an exceptional representative of the bricklaying profession. His steady progression, proactive attitude, and growing confidence make it clear why he has been recognised as Highly Commended for this award.