The 2021 TTA Awards Winners

 

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner 2021 – Paul Dawtrey

Paul Dawtrey has contributed greatly to the tile industry, over 42 years to be precise. Having sat on various Tile Association technical committees, Paul has contributed their invaluable expertise on many levels and in many guises. Not only has this person contributed to the UK tile industry for over 40 years, they have taken the products manufactured by their company overseas to over 90 countries and boosted the international reputation of British manufacturing in the process.

Paul has sold products into a remarkable array of projects throughout the world. Palaces, Parliament Buildings, The Hong Kong Science & Technology Building and a huge development in Saudi Arabia back in the early 1980s that required 75,000kg of tile cement are just a few of the varied and exciting projects won by this person. It’s not the average week in the office when the Thai Air Force order huge quantities of Nicobond for delivery to a Temple in the Thai mountains and you find yourself heading to site on the back of a motorbike with your briefcase and the final miles to reach site are made using ponies!

 

Tile Fixer of the Year Winner 2021 – Andy Carroll

Manchester based tiling professional Andy Carroll has worked “on the tools” over 20 years.  Andy’s career started as an apprentice and he went on to complete a NVQ Level 2 in Wall and Floor Tiling.  In 1999 Andy started his own tiling business, which has been successfully trading in the Manchester and North West area, completing over 2000 projects to date.  Andrew Carroll (junior) joined the business in 2011 and has since been learning and perfecting the trade under the guidance of his Dad.  Andy (senior) is as passionate about developing the next generation as he is his own tiling work.  

Andy Carroll & Son Tiling carry out all their work to British Standards, are TTA members, CSCS registered and are also listed by Tameside Trading Standards as a trusted trader.  They are also endorsed by UltraTileFix, a partnership which promotes best practice via demos and videos, and product research through testing.

Andy’s services include: bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, wetrooms, grout restoration and tile cleaning/polishing.  His work includes domestic and commercial contracts for clients such as Costa, Casino 235 and Eastwood Building Services.  Andy’s satisfaction comes with providing customers with a professional, high quality, friendly and reliable service.  He strives to provide the highest quality workmanship, outstanding customer service and reliability from start to finish.

 

Wall Tile of the Year Winner 2021: Parkside – Spectre

Spectre is the exclusive ceramic wall tile collection from Parkside. Made up of three glaze finishes; the pearlescent Hologram, Matt and Gloss, Spectre explores the interaction of light on different surfaces. Combining glazes in different layout patterns, the collection sees light dances across its surface finishes for a unique look.

 

Floor Tile of the Year Winner 2021 – Verona, Sunburst

Combing the opulence of the Art Deco era with a modern edge, Sunburst is a versatile collection that works equally well across bathroom and kitchen floors as well as hallways and dining rooms. Blending a soft, delicate colour palette with a striking linear pattern, this tile is ideal for those who want something more decorative and out of the ordinary to make a real impact under foot.

 

Best Innovation Winner 2021 – RAK Ceramics Luce

Luce is the name of the innovative maximus translucent big slab collection from RAK Ceramics. The slabs can be a stunning centrepiece for any design concept and amaze when enhanced with backlighting technology. An absolute novelty that is sure to inspire your creativity.

Perfect for lighting up interior design environments ranging from hotels to shops and residential premises, the range includes seven different graphics and colours in marble and onyx effect, that replicate the natural ability of the stones to filter the light.

The translucent body of Luce is made with a very high purity of raw materials containing special and high-quality clays and minerals. When illuminated, Luce’s special body gives a soft glow and really transforms the design from a plain tile to a soft natural marble.

 

Employee of the Year Winner 2021 – Martin Pouncey, Instarmac – UltraTileFix

During one of the most difficult of years ever, Martin has continued to conduct site visits on behalf of UltraTileFix, supporting the industry and the essential restart of construction work.  He adapted his training techniques and was a regular ‘virtual trainer’ for the likes of CTD and others.  Where restrictions allowed, academy days and trade events were conducted with social distancing now as a priority.  This was instrumental in the brand’s new product launches during 2020, which were delightfully received by the industry in-light of the enormous damaging situations that many were facing.

In 2020, Martin also brought out his trowel once again, and kept two home-builds on track despite the necessary disruption caused by COVID-19.

So after continuing to support UltraTileFix and the industry throughout most of 2020 (adhering to government guidelines at all times), Martin has, in our opinion, really been the employee of the year.  During his lengthy career, he has mentored three apprentices, who are all still tiling contractors today; and achieved a record number of 190 students qualifying in one year.  Coming up to 30 years in the industry next year, we would really like to recognise Martin’s dedication to his role and responsibilities that have made a huge difference to the industry, and many who work within it from contractors, retailers, homeowners and students over this last year and previously.

 

Best Commercial Project (Small) Winner 2021: Digital Ceramics Custom Tiles, Atoll Project

A collaboration between Digital Ceramics Custom Tiles and artist, Morag Myerscough resulted in a vibrant, dynamic café installation in a newly refurbished office space. Digital Ceramics Custom Tiles met a series of challenges head on for a stunning structure. The tile printing was a delicate process, and the tile cutting was incredibly intricate to meet the complexity of the design.

 

Best Commercial Project (Large) Winner 2021: Shackerley (Holdings) Group Ltd – One Vesta Street, Manchester

The One Vesta Street project demonstrates the value of Shackerley’s SureClad® ceramic granite as a non-combustible material in the residential sector. The innovative fixing systems developed by Shackerley and the expertise of the Shackerley team enabled a complex façade design, including bespoke manufacturing of details and a schedule of varied panel sizes. The project also demonstrates the benefits of collaboration between the façade manufacturer and the delivery partners, during product selection and throughout the installation.

 

Best Heritage Project Winner 2021: Armatile, St Patrick’s Church

Constructed in 1877 by revered architect Joseph Hansom prior renovation works at St Patrick’s Church had left the flooring so damaged it was totally beyond repair and Armatile was contacted for a solution.

The brief was to work with the architect and client to restore the original integrity of the church by designing and sourcing a tiling package to create a floor with bespoke handcrafted features that paid homage to the building’s history and beautiful architectural features.

 

Best Domestic Project Winner 2021 – Craven Dunnill, Carpenter Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham

Craven Dunnill were appointed to supply wall and floor tiles by interior design consultants Cream & Black, for a domestic renovation project in Edgbaston, Birmingham.The success of the project was in the bringing together of the vision and desires of the homeowner, the inspiration of the interior designers and the expertise and finest quality tiles from Craven Dunnill to create a stunning home wellness spa, pool and terrace seldom seen in a domestic home.

 

Excellence in Marketing 2021 Winner – Tile Choice

Throughout the many challenges of 2020, our response to the global pandemic forced us to make tough decisions about how and where we align with our customers. We implemented carefully planned campaigns to promote new products and offers, along with safe-shopping. By targeting customers on an engaging, more personal level we were able to tap into the human need for more connectivity, which proved to be a massive success. 

 

Best Environmental Initiative Winner 2021 – Royal Mosa

As part of the journey to circularity, Mosa has recently replaced the natural raw material chalk with calcite, a renewable resource. Obtained by partnering up with local drinking water companies WML and AquaMinerals, producing with calcite helps to increase the proportion of recycled material in all of the approximately 500 Mosa wall tiles from 21 to 33 percent.

Mosa has been working according to the Cradle to Cradle® principles since 2011. This means the tile manufacturer reduces waste, saves energy, and assumes its corporate social responsibility according to five main criteria: Material Health, Material Reutilization, Renewable Energy and Carbon Management, Water Stewardship, and Social Fairness. Clean resources, a large potential for reuse, low energy consumption, eco-friendly water management, and good working conditions. By using calcite, Mosa is taking the next step in making its products more sustainable.

Mosa is the first ceramic tile company in the world to have gained Cradle to Cradle® Silver certification for 99% of its entire tile collection, which includes wall tiles, floor tiles, and systems. Thanks to the sustainable nature of the products, the tiles contribute to a healthy indoor environment and are free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). As a result, Mosa tiles now play a role in certifications for sustainable buildings such as LEED, WELL, BREEAM, DGNB, and HQE

 

Best E-Commerce Website/App Winner 2021 – Total Tiles.

Total Tiles is an E-commerce Tile retailer which has grown substantially over the last 5 years. From a small team of 6 operating out of a 5000ft² in 2016, Total Tiles has grown to a team of 55 operating out of a 55,000ft² Distribution and Sales Centre in Ipswich, a procurement, sales, accounts and digital team in their Stoke Office and an operations team in Letchworth. Sales have risen from £2.2million in 2016 to £17.5miliion in 2020, 91% of Total Tiles revenue is from E-commerce sales. Total Tiles has a staff retention rate of 98% and believe that their 55 colleagues are their greatest asset.

 

Excellence in Supply & Services 2021 – Armatile

During 2020 Armatile has seen a huge growth in demand for new bespoke tile and fabricated products (such as porcelain stair treads and fabricated basins). Armatile has adapted its services in response, supplying its customers with the very best tailor made options for their projects while still maintaining its core value of quality. It is achieving this through customer commitment, continuous system improvement, focus on workforce development and refining operational processes to continuously deliver high quality UK made products to projects worldwide.

 

Excellence in Tile Contracting Winner 2021 – Pro Tilers Uk Wall & Floor

Pro-Tilers are very proud to have managed to navigate through a difficult year with the pandemic and keep all of their staff and contractors working, relieving a lot of stress on them around the future. As a team they still strive to take the tiling industry to higher levels of installation they are extremely grateful also to all their staff and contractors for also being there for them throughout this past year.

 

Excellence in Independant Retail Winner 2021 – Roccia

Roccia are a nationwide supplier of tiles, bathrooms and kitchens, shaking up the industry, with the largest independent tile and bath showroom in the UK, and with the most comprehensive range of luxury brands in Europe.

It’s an exemplary business that focuses not just on retail, but on world class designing, as well as supplying products from all over the world, attracting a range of customers from all over the UK.

 

Excellence in National Retail Winner 2021 – Topps Tiles

This year for Topps Tiles has been centred around Customer Experience, Digital Inspiration, and Product Innovation to support their retail business strategy of ‘Great Product, Great Experience, Great Value’. 

They’ve introduced their easy to use tile visualiser ‘Tile My Home’, won several awards celebrating their digital experience, exceeded their in-store OSAT scores and introduced 27 new product ranges including antibacterial tiles. Continuing as leading innovators of design, quality, and inspiration in the UK tile industry.

 

Highly Commended in Excellence in Marketing 2021 – BAL

As all our lives changed completely, suddenly, and incomprehensibly in March 2020  as the Coronavirus pandemic hit the UK and shook us all to our core. BAL recognised at a time when work for many people stopped and lives were put on hold,  in isolation – we had to try and connect and support each other. 

“Stay Positive, Back Stronger” was our initiative and a mantra at the core of their  focus to connect fixers, contractors and specifiers, to maintain contact and support  with the wider industry, to provide entertainment and to give free resources and  education online to provide new tools and support to ensure fixers get back to work  at full speed and can recover better than ever once the lockdown eased.