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We speak to some of last year's regional winners in the Master Builder of the Year Competition.
If last year's Master Builder of the Year awards are anything to go by, family businesses offer an enduring picture of high standards of workmanship and a commitment to providing the public with quality service and skills. None of these things come either overnight or at low prices, but those customers who nominated last year's regional award winners were certainly very satisfied people.
Mike Blades, director of George Blades & Sons Ltd, based in York, knew this only too well when he was able to present his delighted client with her completed five bedroom detached house two weeks early and just in time to welcome a new baby!
Mr Blades takes up the story:
"When we quoted for the job, the client did not know she was pregnant, but as soon as we started work she told us we had to complete in six months because a new arrival was expected. This certainly concentrates the mind but thankfully both were delivered on time and in good order!"
George Blades & Sons Ltd is a family company specialising in new build executive homes. Established by plastering contractor, George Blades in 1935, it is now run by his two sons, Mike and George. George's three sons are also a key part of the company and bring with them engineering, bricklaying and joinery skills. So what impact does an award have on a business like this? Mike Blades describes it as an overall pride in the business:
"Unless you enter you won't know how good you really are or how good your customers think you are. We have also won other awards and we use all these in our advertising." Andrew Provan, whose son works with him in his small general building company in West Lothian, would agree that winning a Master Builder award engenders tremendous pride in the business.
"I was so proud of what we'd achieved when I was presented with the award by the Mayor of Glasgow. We are proud of our standards of work but to be recognised by your customers is a great boost." Award-winner John Longworth from John Dutton & Partners believes that winning a Master Builder award gives the company an edge on its competitors.
"The impact on the business is not hard to quantify. Since winning, clients have sought us out for loft conversions and we have been recommended for a lot of work. Winning a Master Builder of the Year award gives you that extra credibility with clients and the publicity is tremendously valuable." John should know as his award-winning loft conversion featured in Terence Conran's Book of Small Spaces.
"So much publicity about builders is negative but the vast majority of the trade do a good job and we need to put forward as much good work as possible to show the public the excellence which we can achieve." Have you got what it takes to be the next Master Builder of the Year, and win a fabulous £3000 holiday of your choice? National category winners and their nominating customers will each win in a luxury three day weekend break for two. The FMB is calling for builders to ask their customers to nominate them for these awards - and don't forget to tell them that they can also win a fantastic holiday prize. Call freephone 0800 096 5765 for more information.
First posted: 17 July 2002. Last modified: 17 July 2002.
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