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We (Thomas Vale), would like to nominate our Future Enterprise Board as 'Construction Heroes' - they work hard in promoting the industry to young people and leading on corporate responsibility, charitable events, community engagement and leadership; importantly, they don't seek out praise as one of the members said recently "don't all young people want to do this kind of thing? Make a difference?".

Established in 2011, the Thomas Vale Future Enterprise Board (FEB) is made up of 6 self-nominated young professionals who personally opt to help make a difference through a wide reaching corporate responsibility task in order to integrate with local communities, charities and social enterprises; a board which has been endorsed by peer groups including the UKCG, Constructing Excellence and University of Wolverhampton.

The FEB have worked tirelessly over the last 2 years, helping to raise just over £45,000 for community based businesses which do not receive mainstream funding. From two large charity balls with over 600 industry decision makers attending combined or smaller events, their focus has always been to ensure that they make a difference to the communities they are working in.

The have also supported other initiatives in helping to raise the profile of the industry; taking part and hosting the Construction Youth Trust's 'Budding Brunel's', training themselves as CITB Construction Ambassadors and hosting visits from Mark Prisk MP and HRH Duke of York, Prince Andrew. Likewise, they have worked hard to integrate with clients, professionals and supply chain partners to ensure that they are engaged with the business but more importantly, with people.

In 2012, they secured £12,000 of monies to fund an initiative which they have worked in partnership with a local foundation, called 'TWIGS (Together We Invest in Gardening Services' which gives young disabled people the ability to gain qualifications in horticultural skills as part of the governments 'making places' scheme.

They are very humble about the work that they are undertaking - so much so, that they think it is the 'norm'. But how many young people come together to make a difference just because they want to and how many do it all in their own time?

Ok, so this isn't an individual nomination, but as a group, they are significantly helping to improve people's lives.and they don't even know it.

Everyone at Thomas Vale is very proud of what they have achieved.