Peter James, managing director of Newport-based structural engineering company Cintec International has received a High Commendation at the inaugural CIOB International Outstanding Achievement Awards.

Peter James, who has worked in the construction industry for 54 years, was recognised for Cintec’s work restoring Egypt’s Step Pyramid.

Peter was the only person from the UK to be awarded the High Commendation, alongside winners from Canada, Ghana and China.

The International Outstanding Achievement Awards are run by the Chartered Institute of Building and launched for the first time in June this year.

The awards set out to discover the hidden heroes within project teams who have made an outstanding contribution and changed things for the better. They encompass fields as diverse as procurement, conservation, design, people management, facilities and health and safety management.

Peter was presented with his trophy and certificate at the CIOB Inspiring the Future of Construction Conference in London.

Since being appointed in 2011, Cintec has undertaken vital restoration work of the ceiling of the burial chamber in the Step Pyramid which had partially collapsed following the 1992 earthquake. Peter employed the use of Cintec’s unique Waterwall airbags to stabilise the crumbling ceiling while Cintec’s patented anchors were inserted to permanently secure the chamber ceiling.

The Step Pyramid is not the Welsh company’s only project in Egypt as Cintec have worked in the country restoring its historical buildings for 18 years and have undertaken restoration work on Mosques, Temples and both the Red and Step Pyramids. Cintec anchors have also been used to restore other historically significant buildings across the globe including Windsor Castle, the parliament building in Canada and even the White House.

Peter James said: “It was a wonderful surprise to receive this award. After the earthquake in 1992, the Step Pyramid was in serious danger as the entire structure could have been destroyed at any point due to the damage on the ceiling and roof caused by the earthquake. We are therefore delighted that the use of our anchor system has protected this hugely important structure and we are honoured that this work has been recognised by the CIOB.