The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has launched its annual search to find the best builders in Britain, with the overall winner set to receive a brand new Nissan Light Commercial Vehicle of their choice!
The prestigious Master Builder of the Year Awards 2006 comprise eight categories - from which the overall title winner will be chosen - including one for Energy Efficiency and Waste Minimisation, sponsored by the Energy Saving Trust and Envirowise. There is also a separate award for the country's Best Building Apprentice.
The Energy Efficiency and Waste Minimisation category is open to builders involved in a project that demonstrates the best use of energy efficiency features and/or waste minimisation practices to reduce the overall environmental impact.
The winner of the Energy Efficiency category in 2005, Bob Harris of Earthdome Ltd, scooped the Award for a pioneering apartment development near Croydon that belies its suburban appearance. Behind its traditional facade are some of the most advanced sustainable building components. Designed to be both allergy-free and highly energy efficient, the four apartments are the first homes in London to use the earth for heat production, via a ground source heat pump, supplemented by an evacuated air heat pump, which draws heat from the air. They are so efficient that heating and hot water costs are expected to be just £60 a year.
This year the category will also identify projects where there has been a conscious effort to reduce the amount of material wasted, contributing both to the profitability of the project and reducing its environmental impact.
Said Awards' organiser and FMB director general, Ian Davis: "The Awards are designed to reward building excellence and customer service and we hope this category will encourage more builders to investigate low energy and low waste building techniques. The Energy Efficiency and Waste Minimisation category can be entered independently or in conjunction with any other category, including those for new homes, small commercial buildings and domestic renovation projects of all sizes.
"Bob Harris just missed out on the Master Builder of the Year title last year, but with more projects now taking account of the environment, the 2006 Award could well go to the winner of the best energy efficient project. "
Energy efficiency alone won't win the title. What makes the Master Builder of the Year Awards unique, is that every entrant must be nominated by a client who is so pleased with their finished project that they believe their builder or installer deserves national recognition both for their trade skills and their customer service.
Sarah Beeny, presenter of Channel 4's Property Ladder, is supporting FMB's search and will present the Awards at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 9th November 2006.
Said Sarah: "As a property developer myself, I know that the vast majority of Britain's builders are true professionals who offer a high level of building expertise and first class customer service. With the help of satisfied clients, the FMB is putting the good guys in the spotlight. I wholeheartedly endorse their search for the best builders in the industry, and look forward to meeting them later in the year."
The competition is divided into 11 regional heats, with the category winners in each region going forward to the national finals. The closing date for entries is 31 July 2006.
There are prizes of luxury weekend breaks at any of the Paramount Group’s 20 Hotels for each of the national category winners and their clients. The Master Builder of the Year will win a Nissan Light Commercial Vehicle and their client will enjoy a luxury £3,000 holiday.
Master Builder of the Year 2006 is organised by the Federation of Master Builders in association with Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd, and sponsored by American Express, Aon Ltd, B & CE Benefit Schemes, British Gypsum, CITB-ConstructionSkills, Energy Saving Trust, Envirowise, HBXL, Hewden, Hilti, Homebuilding and Renovating, K2 Conservatory Roof Systems, LABC, Paramount Group of Hotels, Professional Builder magazine, Sage Construction, Screwfix, Travis Perkins, and Master Builder magazine.
First posted: 02 March 2006. Last modified: 06 March 2006.
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