Sunday October 6 2024
Swindon & Wiltshire News
A Corsham firm has scooped both awards at the biggest event in the joinery industry’s calendar.
Oakwrights Bath was a warded the prize for Technical Excellence and Innovation in joinery manufacture and for the Apprentice/Trainee of the Year at the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) annual dinner.
It’s the first time in the history of the awards that the same company has taken home both trophies.
The Technical Excellence and Innovation award was made for Oakwrights’ transformation of a building in central London into a spiritual centre for the Self-Realization Fellowship.
The 18-month two-phase project was designed by Ray Hole Architects and delivered by Healthcare Development Services Ltd.
The brief was to undertake a refurbishment that would preserve the heritage of the building while enhancing the whole building decoratively, and involved transforming windows, doors and other internal features, and ensuring the modern 1970s extension linked to and echoed the original Victorian part of the building.
Director Peter Love said: “We enjoyed this project because it allowed us to use every skillset we have. The BWF award is a great honour and testament to the whole team at Oakwrights for the way they rose to the challenge of our biggest single project to date.
Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of the BWF, said: “This prestigious project used modern methods, products and materials to achieve a traditional-looking result, very fine workmanship and excellent standard of finish.
“The judges were very impressed with the joinery quality, innovation and fantastic project management skills shown by Oakwrights.”
The Apprentice/Trainee of the Year, went to Luke Parry, a 26-year old estimator, who is currently working towards an HNC in construction at Swindon College, sponsored by his employer.
Luke, who has been with the firm for seven years, worked on the Self-Realization Fellowship project.
