A Brampton man has been awarded a CBE – Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Paul Sheffield, pictured, who was previously group chief executive for the Kier Group, was recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list for his services to civil engineering, construction and charitable fundraising.

Dr Sheffield said: “I feel very humbled as somebody has put me forward for this, and you’re never sure who it was. I’ve never had public recognition before so it is very nice.

“About four years ago I set up a foundation at Kier which focused the charity work we did. We set up a partnership with Barnados to raise money for them as well as helped a number of disadvantaged people into work.”

After graduating in 1983, Dr Sheffield worked in South Africa, Papua New Guinea, the Middle East and Hong Kong. He returned to the UK in 1998 and was based in Tempsford, Bedfordshire, and moved to Brampton.

In 2001, he was appointed managing director of Kier and in 2010, he became chief executive.

After 31 years with Kier, he left in June to join Laing O’Rourke as managing director of its Europe hub.