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MCGI Awards were launched in 2024 and highlight tutors and trainers who are champions for impactful skills development. These awards have been created to recognise and celebrate tutors and trainers that are operating in the UK and Ireland at a level above their peers in the delivery of training, learning, and development. The aim is to celebrate the individuals who have made a significant impact on their trainees or learners and also on their institutions and communities through the training programmes that they deliver.

Livery Company prizes honour outstanding learners and tutors who have achieved or delivered City & Guilds Group qualifications.

Of those given certificates and awards were multiple BCC graduates including:

• Natasha O’Byrne, Level 3 Furniture Design & Making – Natasha exemplifies the journey of an adult learner transitioning careers with passion and commitment. Awarded the Pysden scholarship for her progress, Natasha has excelled in Furniture Design & Making at the Building Crafts College, demonstrating exceptional handwork skills and problem solving abilities. Her dedication to her craft is evident in her work at a joinery workshop in East London, where she builds high-end bespoke joinery.
• Alexandar Denys Jupp, Stonemasonry Heritage – Alex, formerly a computer animator specialising in architectural visualisations for the construction industry, transitioned careers to pursue his passion for preserving architectural heritage and culture. He studied at the Building Crafts College, earning distinctions in the Stonemasonry Heritage course and receiving the City & Guilds Learner of the Year award. Alex went on to work as a heritage stonemason with Stonewest Ltd, contributing to notable conservation and restoration projects, including Smithfield Market and the Parliamentary Estate.
• Sam Griffiths, Stonemasonry Heritage – Sam graduated from the Heritage Assured Stonemasonry course at the Building Crafts College in 2024. Throughout the course he gained work experience at Crystal Palace Subway, Canterbury Cathedral, and Chester Cathedral. He won the Mason’s Company Award for Outstanding Practical Skills in 2023 and was nominated for Student of the Year in 2024. He also competed in the SkillBuild competition and the Structural Stone Renaissance workshop held at the college in July 2024. After completing the course, Sam moved to Spain to start work at Granits Barbany, a workshop that produces stonework for the Sagrada Familia, amongst other projects.
• Max Higgins, City & Guilds Assured Heritage Stonemasonry Diploma – Max completed the City & Guilds Assured Heritage Stonemasonry Diploma at the Building Crafts College in 2024. Max is a thoughtful, diligent student and stonemason – respectful, and keen to learn from others in the trade. He took on an ambitious carving project for his diploma, a sculpture figure of Britannia. He developed his work from scratch, researching, designing, modelling and casting, then carving. This all pushed his skills to produce a piece of three-dimensional work. Max has stayed on at the college as Maker in Residence and is keen to embrace opportunities that enhance his skills and experience.
• William Johnson, Stonemasonry Apprentice, Stonewest Ltd. – William has been undertaking an apprenticeship in stonemasonry at Stonewest Ltd. since September 2022, whilst attending the Building Crafts College. He recently achieved a distinction in his level 2 End Point Assessment, and was awarded the Michael Montague-Smith Award for heritage learner making the most progress. William is looking to further his learning and skill set by enrolling on the Level 3 stonemasonry course at the BCC. Since joining Stonewest he has worked on Grade1 and Grade 2 buildings such as the Palace of Westminster, Kingston Bridge, the Albert Memorial, and Norman Shaw Buildings.