Best of British joinery revealed as BWF Awards 2016 shortlist announced

The shortlist for the prestigious BWF Woodworking Awards 2016 has been announced. The awards showcase the best of UK joinery, recognising the projects, products, processes and people that have hit the heights of woodworking excellence in the last year.

Finalists for the Woodworking Project of the Year award (sponsored by Accoya) are:

• Gowercroft Limited for the Jurgen Teller Photographic Studio;
• AJ Laminated Beams for the Cockfield Windmill;
• Houghtons of York for a newly constructed private chapel;
• **WINNER** Deacon + Sandys for the Crosby Hall Staircase; and
• SPS Timber Windows for their orangery, French doors and sash windows project.

This award recognises outstanding and innovative projects in the joinery manufacturing and woodworking industry and was set up in memory of John Hedgecock, the former technical director at the BWF.

It has been joined by the new Product Design in Wood category (sponsored by Teknos), launched this year to recognise excellence in technical expertise, application and innovation in joinery product manufacture and design. The new award will be hotly contested, with the shortlist including:

• Future Heritage Sash Windows Limited for their Prestige Sash Window;
• Howarth Windows & Doors Limited for their Town & Country Concealed Balance Sliding Sash Window;
• **WINNER** Joint entry from Howdens Joinery & Norma Doors for their Quick Fit Internal Door, and
• JELD-WEN UK for their Moulded FD30 Glazing Innovation

Other shortlisted entries firms vying for the BWF process efficiency award (sponsored by W16) include:

• Leitz Tooling UK Ltd for their ThermoTech Window System, and
• **WINNER** TwoTwenty for their new Zero Light, Heat and Power Head Office

This category rewards new, efficient processes in the industry which boost business performance and provide customers with the best possible products at the best price, quality level and delivery time.

The BWF Health & Safety Hero award (sponsored by Didac) is being contested by:

• Broadley Group
• Edmont Ltd
• Heron Joinery, and
• **WINNER** Kierson

The award is in memory of Michael Lee, former membership director at the BWF, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Part of BWF’s broader Health and Safety Hero campaign, this award acknowledges individual or collective efforts which have a notable difference to the health and safety practices and culture of a joinery business.

Two of the other categories, the awards for apprentice and trainee of the year (both sponsored by CITB), have also attracted very strong shortlists this year.

Up for joinery apprentice of the year, rising stars including:

• Jamie Jarrett (John Weaver Contractors),
• **WINNER** Imogen Davis (Law & Lewis Joinery of Cambridge Ltd), and
• Jotham Williams (Barr Joinery).

Shortlisted for trainee of the year are:

• **WINNER** Greg Kasowicz (Gowercroft Limited),
• Emma Tribe (Howarth Timber Windows & Doors Limited), and
• Keith Kerby (Howarth Timber Windows & Doors Limited)

Iain McIlwee, chief executive of the BWF says:

"It is no surprise to see such a wealth of talent within an industry where outstanding design and craftsmanship often stand alongside personal and business excellence. The awards give us an opportunity to showcase how progressive and innovative the joinery sector is and how it is not only a key part of our heritage, but a vital part of our future.”

The winners of the 2016 Awards will be announced at the BWF’s annual dinner on 4 October at the National Motorcycle Museum and will be hosted by Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards. The BWF Awards is co-located with the W16 show which runs at the NEC from 2-5 October. The event is open to all who wish to see the fantastic entries with tables and individual tickets available via the BWF website on the BWF Annual Dinner and Awards Pages