Mario Del-Signore and Peter Haywood winner of the IAI Fellowship Award
The best industry professionals and most promising newcomers within the international door hardware industry were recognised at the Institute of Architectural Ironmongers (IAI) Awards.
The IAI Fellowship Award is always given to an individual who has shown a longstanding and ongoing commitment to the IAI over at least 10 years, and who is still actively involved within the industry and Institute.
This year’s winner was Peter Haywood, now working with Synergy Hardware. Peter was presented with the Fellowship Award for his “continuing dedication and passion for the Institute”. He headed the IAI as national chairman from 2006 until 2008, and has continued to support the regional branches since then. He will be taking over as chair of the south east branch later this month.
The Paul Lewis Award for Customer Service is given to an individual, group or company that has made an outstanding commitment to customer services throughout the year. The award is sponsored by Royde & Tucker, and went to Paul Barrows, commercial manager for UK and Ireland for Assa Abloy Security Solutions.
Paul was chosen as the winner for this award for his commitment to giving the best customer service. He was described by the judges as “always willing to help and not happy until he’s resolved every last detail of a customer’s query,” and a “modest, but very knowledgeable professional who puts customers at the heart of everything he does”.
The GAI Award for Services to the Institute is always awarded to a current IAI member who has made a recent and visible contribution at branch level. This year’s winner was Paul Grech, managing director of Glutz UK Ltd.
Paul previously served as vice chair, and then as chair, for the south east branch. He still remains a strong supporter and regular attendee of the branch meetings, getting involved in initiatives and debates. He is currently on the GAI technical committee representing the interests of the IAI. It is this continued loyalty and commitment that made him a “natural choice” for this award.
The Promising Ironmonger of the Year award went to Tom Davis, residential category manager at Carlisle Brass Ltd. This award is given to the brightest ironmongers in the early stages of their careers. They could be involved in scheduling, estimating, sales or a combination of them all, and the award also recognises they have the charisma and personality to inspire others.
Tom has demonstrated that he is someone that takes his professional development seriously, having completed his GAI Diploma last year. Not only is he continuing to improve his own ironmongery knowledge, he is also encouraging and supporting the learning of his colleagues. He stood out to the judges because of his “willingness to help others, positive attitude and desire to get involved in the sector”.
Mario Del-Signore, chairman of the IAI, said:
“The IAI awards are always a joyous opportunity to put truly outstanding individuals and companies in the spotlight, and for them to receive the praise they deserve for their particular contributions in our sector.”
The IAI Awards were given at a dinner following the Institute’s AGM, an event that also included CPD opportunities for Institute members and an Ironmongers’ Village area with new door hardware products on display.