An extraordinary renovation of a Grade II* listed part-medieval hall in South Gloucestershire, once owned by Henry V’s standard bearer at the Battle of Agincourt, has been crowned the overall Master Builder winner at this year’s Federation of Master Builders’ National Master Builder Awards. The team also won the Large Renovation Project Award for the build.

Wiltshire-based Stonewood Builders Ltd triumphed at the Master Builder Awards, which were hosted online on September 24^th by TV presenter and all-round building enthusiast Nick Knowles.

The awards recognise building excellence, quality craftsmanship, and exceptional customer service, and are run by the Federation of Master Builders, the largest trade association in the UK construction sector which is this year celebrating its 80th anniversary.

Tasked with the challenging restoration of a vast and deteriorating property, parts of which dated back as far as the 12^th century, Stonewood Builders Ltd demonstrated expert craftmanship and a deft touch in preserving the property’s historic attributes, while upgrading the property to modern standards.

The range of heritage techniques harnessed to deliver the project, including lime plastering and strapwork ceiling installations, stunned the judges, who praised the superb quality of finish and an “outstanding” result for the “delighted” customer. “We now live in a beautiful home that is steeped in history, but a hundred percent adapted to modern family living”, said the client.

Stonewood Builders had to overcome many and varied problems to deliver this build. Insensitive 1970s renovations were stripped back, and period-appropriate features reintroduced and restored. The oak panel staircase in the great hall is a standout feature, as is the 16^th century fireplace restored and aged using yoghurt. Original supporting beams in the bedrooms have been repaired, restored and sand-blasted to form beautiful high ceilings above lime-washed stone walls. The insulation that has been added to the walls is just one of the many touches that gives this ancient home a firm eye on the future.

The judges hailed the rare skills displayed by this building company, and the knowledge shown in deciding when to employ them to complete a renovation worthy of royalty.

Reacting to his company’s win, Ben Lang, Chief Operating Officer of Stonewood Group, said: “We feel very privileged to win this award. It feels absolutely outstanding. It was a fabulous project, and the FMB is a wonderful organisation, so we couldn’t be more delighted. The exposure and profile that comes from this is game changing.”

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, hailed the success of the 2021 Master Builder Awards, and congratulated Stonewood Building Ltd, saying: “The Master Builder Awards celebrate the pinnacle of the UK building industry, and I’m delighted we have been able to acknowledge outstanding craftsmanship and brilliant tradespeople in year’s competition. These Awards are all the more special as they come after the toughest of 18 months for small builders. Aligning with the FMB’s 80^th anniversary, we have a further reason to celebrate.”

Berry added: “Stonewood Builders’ medieval hall renovation demonstrates what the UK’s builders do best. It is a beautiful, clever build, that has preserved a bit of history and created a comfortable home. The range of skills and trades displayed, and the quality of the work and customer service, was phenomenal. This is what being a Master Builder is all about.”

George Wallis, Head of Marketing at Isuzu UK, who provided a new pick-up truck worth over £37,000 to the winner, said: “This project won Master Builder of the Year because of the quality of the build, and the sympathetic nature of the development, combined with the amazing craft skills to deliver. What a stunning outcome at the end.”

Jan Etchells, FMB National President, and National Judge for this Overall Master Builder category, said: “It’s an exemplary project. I think that they have married the requirements of 21^st Century living perfectly with being in keeping with the actual age of this Grade II listed medieval hall.”

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Setanta Construction Ltd, a second-generation family business based in Northern Ireland, has been dubbed a “company to watch” by the independent judges of this year’s Federation of Master Builders’ National Master Builder Awards, after courage to innovate and grow during the pandemic paid off.

TV presenter and all-round building enthusiast Nick Knowles announced the winner of the Building Company of the Year award to the delight of the Setanta team, during the awards ceremony held online on September 24^th.

The awards recognise building excellence, quality craftsmanship, and exceptional customer service, and are run by the Federation of Master Builders, the largest trade association in the UK construction sector which is this year celebrating its 80th anniversary.

Specialising in timber frame builds and off-site manufacture, Setanta Construction are now at the forefront of building low-carbon, energy efficient homes. Just before the pandemic hit, they expanded their workshop and factory space, while still delivering for clients during a very busy period.

The company succeeded in securing £138,000 of support from Invest Northern Ireland for R&D and job creation, enabling them to develop unique off-site solutions and enter new markets, for example in providing dormer windows to the Claridges Hotel in London. With this, the company is projected to create jobs for 12 more people.

The judges applauded Setanta’s attitude to employee training and wellbeing, supporting apprentices, hosting regular “toolbox talks” to address any areas of concern in the industry or amongst staff, and places a focus on the mental health of their team. With staff members who have been with the company for 16 years, Setanta Construction are certainly doing a lot right.

Mark Gribbin, Director of Setanta Construction Ltd, said: “It’s great to be recognised. I know lots of other companies will be doing what they can, for their staff, to be supportive. Everyone’s finding it tough, but we’re finding a way through it. It’s interesting, challenging, but rewarding work.”

Hardy Geisler, Chief Executive Officer at the British Board of Agrément (BBA), said: “It seems Setanta is a company to watch. Specialising in timber frame homes and off-site constructed systems and building elements, they seem to set the bar high and attract interest from demanding clients. This is accompanied by investment in the business, particularly its people.”

Simon Ayres, Chief Executive of TrustMark, said: “The reason for choosing this company as winner of the category was the innovation that it has shown in a market that is changing rapidly. As we move forward into the 2020s, we have to now support new thinking, new ideas and new technologies. This company’s demonstration of all these different areas makes it a worthy winner.”

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A Shropshire building contractor has welcomed the next generation of craftsmen with the appointment of three new apprentices.

Louie Bowen, Dan Davies and Jon Goss have all started carpentry apprenticeships with the award-winning builders and are learning their trade on the new low carbon facilities being built at Harlescott Junior School in Shrewsbury for Shropshire Council.

Sixteen-year-old Louie, a former student at Shrewsbury’s Belvidere School, is following in the footsteps of his carpenter dad Adam who has worked on Pave Aways’ sites as a sub-contractor. His mentor is Max Barnett, who learned his skills from Louie’s dad when he began work at Pave Aways.

Dan Davies, a 17-year-old from Pontesbury, has joined Pave Aways after completing a BTEC Level 2 First Award in Construction at the Mary Webb School and then a Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery at the Shrewsbury Colleges Group.

And Jon Goss has stepped up from his role as a multi-skilled labourer at Pave Aways to a dedicated role as a carpentry apprentice. The trio will all be combining on site work with study at Shrewsbury College.

Managing Director Steven Owen said the new apprentices signalled a significant boost to the firm’s carpentry team.

“We were very impressed with Louie and Dan when they did work experience with us,” he said. “It was a natural progression for them to join our team on a full-time basis and we look forward to supporting them through their careers.

“Jon displayed a natural aptitude for carpentry and, as we are keen to invest in and upskill our employees, the apprenticeship will help him gain the professional qualifications he needs.”

Pave Aways has a strong tradition of bringing on new talent and it won the Education and Training award at the 2020 Shropshire Business Awards. It is a member of The 5% Club, a national movement committed to investing in new talent, and 23 per cent of its current workforce are apprentices or trainees.

To learn more, visit www.paveaways.co.uk

The £2.1m extension of a Chester school has been completed with the new building opening its doors to students at the start of the Autumn term.

The additional teaching block at Blacon High School, designed and built by Pave Aways, has scored an A+ energy efficiency rating with a building emission rate of 0.08 kgCO2/m2 per year.

The two-storey building, funded by Cheshire West and Chester Council and Blacon High School, will allow the school to increase its capacity by 150 students to 750.

It includes provision to support students with special education needs, a dining area and two dedicated rooms to support the creative curriculum on the ground floor. There are also six new classrooms located on the first floor and additional bicycle storage has been installed on site to encourage more pupils to cycle to and from school.

The building, which is one of the first projects to be supported by the Council’s Climate Emergency capital funding, is powered from on-site and off-site renewable energy sources, including solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof, with the remaining carbon balance offset to achieve net zero carbon status.

Building materials have been selected to ensure the extension is well insulated to help reduce heat loss and, in turn, the amount of energy needed to run the building.

Managing Director Steven Owen said: “We are delighted to have achieved such a highly sustainable building that will benefit the students and the environment for years to come.

“Securing an A+ energy rating is always an achievement but is especially rewarding as it has been a challenging time for construction with the covid pandemic and material shortages. Reaching this very high standard of construction is a credit to our team and sub-contractors.”

Headteacher Rachel Hudson said: “We are absolutely delighted to see the completion of this project, which will enable us to meet the demand and need for places within our local community. This is testament to the belief and confidence in Blacon High School by all those involved.

“This outstanding facility will help us to support students to achieve the best outcomes in a high quality learning environment.”

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Climate Emergency, said: “It’s fantastic to see one of our new buildings achieving a net zero carbon status, something that will not only benefit the school, with lower running costs, but also the borough as we aim to reduce our emissions and become carbon neutral by 2045.”

An award-winning firm of builders has made a series of new appointments as it lays the foundation to further strengthen its team.

Pave Aways Building Contractors has welcomed three new recruits as part of its ongoing commitment to delivering construction excellence and to enable the introduction of a new role focusing on the welfare of its staff.

David Disney, a former director of Midlands building firm E Manton Ltd, has joined as contracts manager. Corrie Ellis has taken on the role of payroll and accounts officer to facilitate the internal promotion of finance manager Charlotte Davies whilst Kelly Swannick is a new part-time receptionist and administrative assistant, sharing the job with Sabrina Davies who is expanding her remit to develop Pave Aways’ health and wellbeing strategy.

Pave Aways is one of the region’s leading independent commercial building contractors with offices in Knockin near Oswestry, Wrexham and Newtown. The firm is currently working on commercial new builds and extensions in the education, healthcare, manufacturing and charity sectors with a total value of £28m for clients across Shropshire, Mid Wales, Staffordshire, Cheshire and the south west.

Managing Director Steven Owen said the new appointments were crucial to further build on Pave Aways’ success.

“It has been a very busy few years for the overall development of the business and we are now looking to consolidate our position and lay the groundwork to underpin our long-term strategy,” he explained.

“David brings a wealth of construction experience to Pave Aways and will play an important role in ensuring we continue to offer the same standard of construction excellence we pride ourselves on as we grow.

“Having Corrie on board will enable us to support Charlotte’s personal development and future role in the business. Sabrina’s new focus underlines our commitment to supporting our on-site and office-based teams and she will work closely with our HR manager to explore and develop initiatives that support their physical and mental wellbeing.”

Pave Aways employs 86 staff and supports a sub-contractor supply chain of more than 180 businesses across the region.