WARRINGTON-based civil engineer Steve Dempsey has won a coveted Mentor of the Year award from the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Steve, who works as chief civil engineer for United Utilities, based at Lingley Mere, was honoured for his commitment and expertise in supporting the education and development of young civil engineers.
Civil engineers who have benefited from Steve’s support spoke of his “unquestionable technical capability”, his “excellent support” and his “real care and concern for each student”.
One former mentee spoke of how, during a difficult time in his career, Steve’s “much valued support and encouragement … helped put my career back on the right tracks”.
As well as having mentored some 50 young civil engineers and technicians over the years, 57-year-old Steve has supported dozens of students at Liverpool John Moores University, where one lecturer who had worked with Steve described him as “an outstanding example of a dedicated professional engineer and mentor”.
Darrell Matthews, North West regional director of the Institution of Civil Engineers, said: “The tributes paid to Steve Dempsey by his mentees, students and colleagues show that he’s not only a great civil engineer but also a truly exemplary mentor. Steve has shown an
inspiring degree of dedication to his role of helping other people with their education and their career, and the Institution of Civil Engineers is proud of him.”
Steve, who has also been a scout leader for 36 years, said: “I have had the pleasure of working with a lot of great engineers in helping them achieve Incorporated, Chartered or Fellowship status with the Institution of Civil Engineers and I am proud to receive this award which also reflects both their efforts and United Utilities’ support for engineers.”
Helen Samuels, director of engineering at United Utilities, said “Steve is a key member of my management team, with the role of chief civil engineer. He holds accountability not only for the leadership and technical outcomes associated with his team of graduates and chartered
engineers, but for all civil engineering activity across United Utilities, including work undertaken by our fields teams and our supply chain partners. This requires both hard and soft skills, including those of mentor and coach across a diverse range of teams.
“As a mentor and supervising civil engineer Steve sets the required standards for all his current mentees and actively supports their achievement. Steve’s tireless support as a mentor extends to engineers from United Utilities’ partner organisations and former employees.”
