Hull bricklayer who overcame adversity wins award for inspiring others

A young bricklayer from Hull overcame adversity following an autism diagnosis has become a skilled construction site operative.

Following his success, he has has been honoured with a prestigious award for his mentoring skills.

Charlie Walsh, an employee at the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire construction firm Hobson & Porter, was named Mentor of the Year at this year’s G4C Yorkshire and Humber Constructing Excellence Awards.

The awards celebrate individuals committed to the construction industry and companies that support professional development.

Diagnosed with autism at three-years-old, Charlie attended Northcott Special School for 11 years before enrolling in a construction course at Hull College at 16, where he chose bricklaying as his vocation.

After completing level one and two qualifications at Hull College, he moved to Bishop Burton College in East Yorkshire to complete his level three qualification. During his studies, Charlie secured work experience at Hobson & Porter, which led to a position as a bricklaying apprentice.

Now 27, Charlie is a site operative and has worked on numerous high-profile construction projects across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Charlie now frequently shares his uplifting story in motivational talks, often visiting special educational needs schools where he connects with pupils who are grappling with obstacles similar to what he faced during his early years. His presentations have become incredibly popular, with audience members eager to chat further and pose questions after each session.

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Charlie reflected on his journey: “School was difficult for me. I was shy and struggled to communicate with others and faced a lot of challenges, but when I joined Hull College, my confidence grew and I finally felt like me, which was the best feeling.

“Then, securing a role at Hobson & Porter and having the opportunity to start building a career was another milestone that I’ve relished.”

He also expressed his enthusiasm for engaging with students: “Talking to school pupils who are in a similar position now to where I was a few years ago, is something I really enjoy. There are lots of opportunities for them and my message is that it’s good to try new things. If you like it, stick with it; if you don’t, try something else and don’t worry about winning or losing, passing or failing. You can only do your best and that’s what matters.”

Upon receiving an award for his efforts, Charlie said: “Receiving this award for my efforts is brilliant and I’m very proud of it. I love having a positive impact on others by sharing my own stories and continuing to speak in schools, as well as inspiring young people, is something that I definitely want to continue doing.”

Jacquie Blades, the HR director at Hobson & Porter, said: “I remember first meeting Charlie when he came to us on work experience in 2016. It was immediately apparent that he was dedicated, had a great work ethic and would be an asset to our business, so we were only too happy to offer him an apprenticeship and help him forge a career.

“He quickly became a well-respected member of our team, who is hugely popular with his colleagues, our clients and everyone who meets him.

“There’s no doubt Charlie thoroughly deserves this award. He is a mentor like no other, with an inspiring and compelling story to share. His mentorship doesn’t follow the typical format of one-to-one advice, guidance and knowledge sharing. Instead, Charlie’s reach and impact goes far beyond this.

“He’s now committed to giving back to both the construction industry and young people and children facing similar challenges to him. He inspires young people to embrace their individuality and flourish, as well as highlighting how rewarding a career in construction is. His audiences always take inspiration from his story and learn from his experiences. Charlie’s potential knows no bounds and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.”

Charlie has been recognised with several awards in recent years. In 2016, he was shortlisted for the ‘Young Builder of the Year’ award by Youthbuild and later commended for this achievement at The House of Commons in London.

While studying at Hull College, he was also named ‘Most Outstanding Student on a Full-Time Level 1 Bricklaying Course’ and won ‘The Walter Dickinson Memorial Award’, which is given to the most outstanding student overall.