Practitioner Award

Award criteria

 
Purpose: The purpose of this award is to recognise outstanding achievement in the learning, sharing or execution of NDT/CM/SHM practice.
 
Details of the award: £250 cash, a voucher to the value of £300 towards training at an Approved Training Organisation (ATO)/Authorised Qualifying Body (AQB) and an invitation to the NDT Annual Conference Dinner with one night's accommodation. This financial contribution to the value of £300 is in support of any CPD initiative/aspiration, of the recipient’s choice, that has been endorsed by the Practitioner Committee and must be used within two years of presentation.

Free Institute membership is offered to all award winners who are not currently members, at the appropriate grade.

Eligibility: Any member or non-member of BINDT showing outstanding performance in NDT/CM/SHM duties and demonstrating qualities such as a consistently high standard of performance in a specific job (service, loyalty, ethics, client satisfaction), potential to develop the depth or breadth of NDT/CM/SHM competence, acting as a mentor, coach or leader of junior or less experienced colleagues or associates and/or contribution to a specific project that yielded technical and/or financial benefits for the employer or organisation.

The proposer of the award should be a voting member of the Institute. If they are not, they will need to ensure the application is endorsed by an Institute voting member.

Frequency: Annual award.
 
Nomination arrangements: Nominations may be made by any manager, supervisor, team leader or mentor who is familiar with the nominated person and has witnessed their engagement in the execution of NDT/CM/SHM and observed commendable behaviour, effort or aptitude and can attest to having done so.

The Practitioner Committee will select the most suitable applicant and forward its nomination to the Croxson Committee for submission to Council for approval.

Awarding arrangements: Presentation from any member of the Practitioner Committee at the most mutually convenient location. Photographic record and subsequent publication in NDT News and Insight.
 
Committee: Practitioner Committee.

Winners

The Practitioner Award for 2025 is awarded to Ben Walsh.

Having spent most of his life working on a farm in the Scottish Borders, Ben was first introduced to rope access and non-destructive testing (NDT) through his partner’s cousin, who was working with Applus. He encouraged Ben to put together a CV and give a new career a go, a decision that turned out to be one of the best he has ever made.

Ben joined Applus in 2021 and began his career as a rope access technician. This role gave him his first real exposure to the petrochemical industry, which led to him becoming aware of NDT. He was extremely fortunate to be mentored by Cammy Gibbons, who has played a huge part in his development, and Ben is extremely grateful for everything Cammy has taught him.

Soon after, Ben transitioned into NDT full time, working out of the Applus Falkirk operations base under George Goodfellow. This period was invaluable in building hands-on experience across a wide range of NDT methods while working alongside great technicians such as Neil Christian and Chris Pirrie.

After passing his phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) certification last year, Ben moved into a new department under Dave Nelson, where he has continued to grow professionally.

Ben is honoured and humbled to have been selected by the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) to receive this award and he is thankful to all those who have supported him throughout his journey so far.