YOU could be the tenth Master Builder of the Year!

The FMB Master Builder of the Year awards demonstrate to the public the outstanding work carried out by professional builders in the UK every single day.

In an increasingly competitive building market, accolades such as the ‘Master Builder of the Year’ could just make the difference between winning and losing contracts. In tougher markets, clients have more choice of contractors, and award-winning builders will rise to the top of the pile.

Given the growth in the prestige and popularity of the Master Builder of the Year Awards, and the national, regional and local media interest generated by the competition, simply entering could set you apart from the rest.

ARE YOU THE MASTER BUILDER OF THE YEAR?

The 10th Master Builder of the Year Awards will be celebrated in March 2011, which coincides with the FMB’s 70th anniversary.

This could be the best year yet and YOUR chance to win the title ‘Master Builder of the Year’. Once again sponsored by Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd, these awards put the spotlight on your business – FMB Director General, Richard Diment said: “There is no doubt that Master Builder of the Year is the title that every builder aspires to. Past winners, be they regional or national have all seen significant benefits in entering, and the award categories match the type of work most small and medium sized building firms undertake.”

AWARD CATEGORIES

• Category one – New homes
  New homes by a builder who constructs fewer than 10 new homes a year
• Category two – Small renovation projects
  Professional residential/domestic restoration, refurbishment or extension costing less than £50,000
• Category three – Medium renovation projects
  Professional residential/domestic restoration, refurbishment or extension costing between £50,000 and £250,000
• Category four – Large renovation projects
  Professional residential/domestic restoration, refurbishment or extension costing more than £250,000
• Category five – Commercial
  New build or refurbishment of a commercial building costing less than £3 million
• Category six – Energy efficiency
  Project demonstrating best use of energy efficient features designed to save energy, reduce costs and reduce the overall environmental impact
• Category seven – Heavenly builder
  Nominated by satisfied customers of firms whose annual turnover is under £300,000
• Apprentice of the Year
  For an apprentice who has demonstrated particularly high levels of practical skill in their chosen trade.
   
   

BITE THE BULLET AND ENTER

If you are proud of a project you have completed SINCE JULY 2008 (or have one that is nearing completion) that you feel deserves consideration, make sure you enter it for one of the awards. We have made it as easy as possible for you to enter, all you have to do is register online or call 020 7092 3870 and your application pack will be sent to you in April, when the award are formally launched.

HOW PREVIOUS WINNERS HAVE BENEFITTED

Britain's builders regularly impress and delight their clients, despite the negative image of our industry that is so frequently portrated in the media. It's fantastic for business to win an award. It acknowledges hard work and impeccable skills.

The Prizes

Master Builder of the Year – A Nissan Light Commercial Vehicle of the winner’s choice worth up to £20,000

Client of the Master Builder of the Year - £3,000 to spend on the holiday of their choice

Apprentice of the Year - £1000 cash.

Past winners, be they regional or national have all seen significant benefits in entering the Master Builder of the Year Awards. This is what some of them have to say:

2002 Dam Green Services, Norfolk

Lynda Porter of Dam Green Services Ltd said: “Winning the award has brought us new business and a wide range of projects, from barn conversions to a luxury refurbishment recently completed in London. The clients who owned the winning project in 2002, the School House, have moved on and we have been working on their new property in Suffolk, an Arts and Crafts inspired house that they have updated with two new extensions.”

2005 D.I.T.T. Construction Ltd, Shetland Isles

Peter Tait, the 2005 Master Builder of the Year said: “The Master Builder of the Year Award was extremely useful in giving recognition to the broad range of skills within our company. As it is a nationally recognised award we were able to make great use of it in marketing ourselves to customers.”

2006 Manor Building Company, Devon

Peter Passmore of Manor Building Company, Torbay said: “The owners of this award winning property have been kind enough to allow us to show prospective clients round. As a result we have won many more jobs.”

2007 Bybridge Construction, Oxfordshire

Mark Gaul of Bybridge Construction renovated this Wesleyan chapel. It started off as an empty shell and ended up as a glorious, contemporary guesthouse. Speaking of his win, Mark said: “Since winning the award we have been asked to provide quotes for new clients and architectural practices.”

2008 Ellis and Hughes, Leicestershire

Kevin Ellis of Ellis & Hughes transformed a humdrum house into a humdinger to win in 2008, he said: “Becoming Master Builder of the Year 2008 has been great for business. The win filled us with optimism for the future.”