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.

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