Tania Riccio cracks gender stereotypes with national plastering award nomination

Tania Riccio and her tutor Rob Wilson with some of Tania’s creations which the college have kept on display

Tania Riccio, showed plastering isn’t just a man’s world after she was nominated for the biggest national award in the industry.

Tania made the three-student-shortlist for “Student of the Year” at The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers’ annual Company Training Awards, after she completed a Level 2 Diploma in Plastering at Hopwood Hall College in June.

The awards, held in London, are the biggest honours a plasterer can receive in the trade and Tania will be the only female nominee for the award.

Tania will make the trip down to the Plaisterers’ Hall, London, for the ceremony with both her mother and former plastering tutor from Hopwood Hall, Rob Wilson.

Aside from the kudos of winning such an honour, the winner will also receive a monetary prize from The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers’ when they accept their award from the Lord Mayor of the City of London.

On being the only female nominee, Tania said: “It’s great, it’s unexpected, but great. I’m proud to be breaking the social barriers that say girls can’t be involved in a trade or in construction, a girl being nominated for this should prove that.

“I’m a bit nervous about going the ceremony, but I have never been to London before so it’s also exciting at the same time.

“I’d really have to thank Rob for getting me nominated. I knew absolutely nothing about plastering when I started Hopwood Hall and he has taught me absolutely everything I know since then. I’ll never lose those skills and I definitely wouldn’t be in contention for the award if not for his teaching and the college’s facilities.”

Rob Wilson was predictably proud of his former student, he said: “What Tania has achieved is something she should be really proud of. She is the first student from this college to make the finals, so to do so as a minority gender is really something special.

“She was a fantastic student when she studied with us and I can’t tell people that enough, hopefully her nomination will inspire other young women to learn a trade.

“We all have our fingers crossed that she can take the award home.”