Judges see the light in national painting
awards
A project to transform some of the UK’s most
prominent landmarks has seen a team of Ian Williams' painters scoop
a national award. The employees proved they are among the best in
the country after gaining a highly commended accolade from the
Painting and Decorating Association for work completed to give UK
lighthouses a fresh look.
As part of a partnering contract with
Trinity House, which owns 69 lighthouses across the UK, Ian
Williams' employees underwent specialist training and were required
to scale heights of more than 43 metres. Lighthouses which have
been decorated include Pendeen Lighthouse, near St Just, Trevose
Head Lighthouse, Padstow and Tater Du/Beachy Head.
Representatives from Ian Williams, one of the
largest facilities management companies in the UK, learnt of their
success at the association’s annual ceremony. The association was
established in 1894 and is one of the largest trade bodies in the
construction and maintenance sector. Its annual awards recognise
skilled craftsmanship.
The team also picked up a second achievement for work to restore
a derelict sanatorium. The Holloway Sanatorium, which first opened
in 1885 to provide psychiatric care, has been in disrepair after
being closed for 14 years. But a five-month project to restore the
building, which now compromises flats and houses, saw the project
commended by the association.
Mike Turner, development director at Ian
Williams, said: “We are delighted that, for the fourth year
running, we have picked up a clutch of awards. These two projects
required specialist skills, training and equipment so to be
recognised in this way is a real boost and signal of our
expertise.
“With wins over so many years we’ve proved to
ourselves and others that we can deliver high-quality projects
which make a real difference to the look of the areas they are
located in. It is particularly pleasing that the judges took into
account our commitment to using apprentices.”
In making their final decisions the judges
took into consideration the extent to which apprentices were
involved in the project, the quality of workmanship and materials
as well as the complexity of the contract and the management of the
job.
Ian Williams previously held the Judges Award
For Excellence and in recent years had won the Premier Trophy
Award’s Commercial Category for its work to transform an Oxford
prison into a luxury hotel.