The 2017 FIS President’s Awards for Apprentice of the Year, Outstanding Employee, Future Leader and Lifetime Achievement, were revealed at a glittering ceremony in the City of London. The awards recognise the outstanding contributions and achievements of individuals within the finishes and interiors sector. 

The Plastering categories of the FIS Contractors Awards, which celebrate high standards of workmanship and technical expertise across the sector, were also unveiled, with Gold and Silver awards presented for the categories of Plastering – Internal and External, and Fibrous and GRG – New Build and Heritage.

Jack Syddall, a drywall and plasterer apprentice at Horbury Building Systems won the Apprentice of the Year; Simon Cambridge a sheet metal production manager at Aask Us won the Outstanding Employee award; the Future Leader award went to Harry Cottam, a project supervisor at TCS Screeding; and the Lifetime Achievement award went to Gordon Brown, now retired but previously with Ornate Interiors.

The FIS Contractors Awards for Plastering returned to their spiritual home of Plaisterers’ Hall. Entries were drawn from across the industry and covered the historic heritage skills of the fibrous plasterer and also the traditional plastering contractors’ capabilities.

The Plastering – Internal Gold award, the Humber Salver, was presented to Taylor Hart, for their work at Fitzroy House, Northampton;  Plastering – External Gold awards, the Crabb Trophy, went to G Cook & Sons, for their work on a new private residence in Oxfordshire; the Fibrous and GRG – New Build Gold, the Crabb Salver, was awarded to Locker & Riley (Fibrous Plastering) for their work at The Lanesborough Hotel, London; and the Fibrous and GRG – Heritage Gold, the Humber Salver, was won by David Fisher & Sons for their work at the New Town townhouse, Edinburgh.

FIS chief executive David Frise said: “The quality of all the entries reflects the true craft skills that exist within the finishes sector and demonstrates that plastering is still an integral part of the modern construction industry.”