Top North-East trades celebrated at prestigious ceremony

The North-East’s most talented trades people were recognised for their achievements at the fourth annual Trades Awards event on Friday at Ardoe House Hotel.

Trades Awards was launched in 2013 to showcase the huge amount of trades talent present within the North-East of Scotland. The awards ceremony has grown year on year and once again, a record number of applications were received for the awards, which is open to businesses of all sizes and disciplines from within the construction industry.

Thirteen awards were handed out in front of an audience of over 400 trades and construction industry professionals, with the award for Outstanding Contribution, sponsored by Stewart Milne Group, going to Willie Donald of WM Donald.

Celebrity builder and TV personality Tommy Walsh was there to share his own journey from tools to TV with the audience, and to assist with each of the award presentations.

The winners of 13 categories were as follows:

Home Improvement Interior (sponsored by Flexistore)

MAC Architects

Home Improvement Exterior (sponsored by TradesAdvisor.com)

Papillon Design & Landscaping Ltd

Health & Safety (sponsored by Safety Scotland)

WM Donald Ltd

Customer Service (sponsored by Sodexo)

Classic Abode Ltd

Best New Business (sponsored by Mark Kennedy Heating Solutions)

Sangster & Lees Joinery Contractors Ltd

Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Scotia Homes)

Shaun Davies, Stewart Milne Homes

Tradesman of the Year (sponsored by Original 106 FM)

Scott Kelly, KLY Electrical Ltd

Site Manager of the Year (sponsored by CALA Homes (North))

David Oliver, Barratt Homes

Young Surveyor of the Year (sponsored by Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors)

Claire Robison, DM Hall

Best Use of Innovation (sponsored by John Mutch Building Services)

AD Heating Ltd

Best Trades Business, 0-10 employees (sponsored by Federation of Small Businesses)

KLY Electrical Ltd

Best Trades Business, 11+ employees (sponsored by Richard Irvin Energy Solutions)

CFF Contractors Ltd

Outstanding Contribution (sponsored by Stewart Milne Group)

Willie Donald, WM Donald Ltd

Darren Ross, managing director of Xcite Ltd, which ran the awards, said: “Trades Awards 2016 truly was a night of celebration for the trades and construction industry. Whilst the north-east is clearly going through a very difficult time, it is important to remember that the construction industry still has much to shout about. If Trades Awards can help in some small way to remind people of the incredible range of career opportunities and business achievements within the industry, then we are delighted.

“This year, more than ever before, our judges spent hours debating our finalists, before finally agreeing on our 2016 winners, due to the high number and standard of applications. We hope that the increase in applications this year is a sign that the industry now views Trades Awards as a platform to showcase their own achievements and innovations, and our priority is to ensure this continues.

“On behalf of Xcite Media, I would like to thank each and every applicant for taking the time to apply this year, collectively demonstrating once again that we have so much to be proud of in the North-East.”

Neil Thomson, construction director of Stewart Milne Homes North, added: “Yet again, Trades Awards has exceeded the expectations of everyone in the industry. The support that the nominations process has seen this year, has been really positive and I hope that the success and growth of Trades Awards continues into 2017 and beyond. Stewart Milne Group has been a proud sponsor of the awards this year and we would like to congratulate all of the winners for being exemplary in their field and I look forward to nurturing this passion within our business and the industry as a winder body in years to come.”