Future talent recognised at 2026 IQ and IAT Student Awards

The Institute of Quarrying (IQ) and the Institute of Asphalt Technology (IAT) celebrated outstanding student achievement at their annual joint awards ceremony, held on Friday 6 November 2026.

Hosted at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, the event brought together Fellows, senior industry professionals, employers and special guests to recognise high-performing students studying mineral products and asphalt technology qualifications.

The event was supported by main sponsors SMT GB/AGGPRO and EPC-UK, and was jointly sponsored by the University of Derby.

Delivered through the partnership between the University of Derby, IQ and IAT, the qualifications combined academic learning with the practical knowledge and skills required across the mineral products, quarrying and asphalt industries. The awards recognised students who achieved exceptional academic results while balancing their studies with demanding professional and personal commitments.

2026 IQ Award winners

The Institute of Quarrying awards recognised achievement across honours, foundation degree, higher apprenticeship, diploma and specialist blasting programmes.

The 2026 IQ Award winners were:

• Ross Hand, Heidelberg Materials UK, received the Goodwin Barsby Award as the highest-achieving Honours student.
• Robin Goh, Cormac Solutions, received the Reginald W Coles Prize as the best overall student across all three years of the course.
• Zayyan Javid, Breedon Group, received the Springbank Quaich Award as the highest-achieving student in Scotland.
• Harriet Brett, Brett Aggregates, received the Ransomes Rapier Award as the highest-achieving Mineral Products Technology higher apprentice on the extractives pathway.
• Esther Hardy, Heidelberg Materials UK, received the Peter Preston Award, UK, as the highest-achieving UK-based diploma student.
• Atif Mohammad Baig, Roadstone Dublin Ltd, received the Peter Preston Award, International, as the best-performing international diploma student.
• Harry Griffin, Cemex UK Materials, received the Longcliffe Calcium Carbonates Award of Excellence for Year Two, recognising the best overall second-year foundation degree student.
• Emma Long, Heidelberg Materials UK, received the Longcliffe Calcium Carbonates Award of Excellence for Year One, recognising the best overall first-year foundation degree student.
• Colin Tweed, Breedon Group, received the EPC-UK Blasting Award for achieving the highest result in blasting studies during the academic year.
• Matthew Robinson, EPC-UK, received a Diploma in Surface Mining Explosives Engineering Award.
• Emerald Buanya, Maxam Civil Explosives, received a Diploma in Surface Mining Explosives Engineering Award.

The recipients represented a wide range of roles and career stages across the sector. Their achievements demonstrated the opportunities available to professionals who combined workplace experience with continued academic and professional development.

Ben Uphill FIQ, IQ President, said:

“This year’s award winners demonstrated exceptional commitment to their studies and professional development. Completing an industry qualification alongside the demands of work and home life required determination, discipline and a genuine desire to progress.“Each recipient should be extremely proud of what they achieved. Their success strengthened not only their own careers, but also the knowledge, capability and future leadership of the wider mineral products industry. On behalf of the Institute of Quarrying, I congratulate every one of our 2026 award winners.”

 

2026 IAT Award winners

The Institute of Asphalt Technology also presented awards recognising academic excellence across the foundation degree, asphalt diploma and higher apprenticeship programmes.

The 2026 IAT Award winners were:

• Stuart Mellor, Breedon, received the IAT Award for Best First-Year Foundation Degree Student.
• Luke Gascoigne-Barnett, MQP/Heidelberg, jointly received the IAT Award for Best Second-Year Foundation Degree Student.
• Rebekah Knowland, Breedon, jointly received the IAT Award for Best Second-Year Foundation Degree Student.
• Joseph Robinson, Tarmac, received third place in the Shell Award for Best Third-Year Foundation Degree Student.
• Zahed Rahman, Holcim, jointly received first place in the Shell Award for Best Third-Year Foundation Degree Student.
• Laiba Laiba, FM Conway, jointly received first place in the Shell Award for Best Third-Year Foundation Degree Student.
• Rebekah Knowland, Breedon, received the Paviors Award for Asphalt and Business.
• James Downing, Associated Asphalt, received a Paviors Award for Pavement Technology.
• Laiba Laiba, FM Conway, received a Paviors Award for Pavement Technology.
• James Downing, Associated Asphalt, received the IAT Award for Best Asphalt Diploma Student.
• Adam Worden, Tarmac, received the IAT Award for Best Higher Apprentice: Asphalt.

Dr Helen Bailey FIQ, FIAT, IAT President, said:

“The breadth of achievement represented by this year’s award recipients reflected the talent, professionalism and ambition found throughout the asphalt industry.“These students applied themselves to developing both their academic understanding and practical expertise, often while managing significant workplace responsibilities. The Institute of Asphalt Technology was proud to recognise their success and support them as they continued to develop their careers and contribute to the future of the sector.”

 

The awards ceremony formed part of an afternoon celebrating professional excellence, education and the next generation of industry talent. Guests also had opportunities to network with Fellows and senior professionals from across the quarrying, mineral products and asphalt sectors.

The Fellows Lunch and Student Awards included the joint awards ceremony, professional networking and a three-course lunch.