Ingenious innovations and outstanding examples of personal and business excellence in the joinery industry are on show in the shortlist just announced for this year’s British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Woodworking Awards.
Finalists for the technical excellence and innovation award are Houghtons of York for its work on a private chapel's stunning baptistery reredos and gradine, as well as Icklesham Joinery for its impressive refurbishment of the crypt at Christ Church, Spitalfields, and Leitz Tooling for game-changing manufacturing innovations in its ThermoTech window system.
This particular award was set up in memory of John Hedgecock, the former technical director at the BWF. It recognises innovative products or projects and rewards excellent in the joinery manufacturing and woodworking industry.
Other shortlisted entries include AJB Group and Stairbox, both firms vying for the BWF lean process efficiency award. This category rewards new, efficient processes in the industry which boost the business’s performance and provide customers with the best possible products at the best price, quality level and delivery time.
The BWF health and safety hero award is being contested by two firms: DJ Newman Joinery in Cornwall, and Kierson Sash Window and Timber Restoration in Nottinghamshire. Part of the industry’s broader health and safety campaign, this award recognises an individual or collective effort to improve conditions in the industry.
Two of the other categories of the BWF Woodworking Awards – the awards for apprentice and trainee of the year – have also attracted very strong shortlists this year.
Rising stars include Lee Heaney of West Port Windows and Doors and Joe Handy of West Oak Joinery, both of whom are up for apprentice of the year. Shortlisted for trainee of the year are Dale Hodgins of Beard Evans Joinery, Mark Jones of Domoney Woodwork and Alice Kreuzberg who works for Tompkins.
Iain McIlwee, chief executive of the BWF says: "This year's awards entries are among the best we've ever seen. There are some very impressive manufacturers and employers in our industry, and it's right that they get recognition for the ways in which they are creating real flair in their people, their projects and their business processes."
The winners of the 2015 awards will be announced at the BWF’s very popular annual dinner on Friday 20 November in the stunning neo-Georgian building and graceful rooms of The Law Society in London. Broadcaster Declan Curry has been announced as the guest speaker.
The BWF Woodworking Awards are sponsored this year by Accoya, CITB, W16 Exhibition and Didac.
