The Institute of Architectural Ironmongers (IAI) has announced the winners of its awards, which were presented at its AGM.

The award winners were:

  • IAI Fellowship Award - Dave Heal, John Monaghan Group
  • Promising Ironmonger of the Year – Adam Sweatman, John Planck Ltd
  • Paul Lewis Customer Service Award – Lorient
  • GAI Award for Services to the Institute – Cheryl Flinders.

This marked the first event with Mario Del-Signore, managing director of CES Security Solutions, as chairman.

“My entire career has been around architectural ironmongery,” said Mr Del-Signore. “I originally joined the IAI some 16 years ago because I wanted to help promote individuals’ personal development, which is good for them, their companies and the industry as a whole.

“The awards that I presented – along with Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) president John Jefferies – recognise outstanding achievements by new entrants and industry stalwarts, and I am proud to work alongside people who demonstrate such pride and passion in their work.

“I intend to ensure my tenure as IAI chairman builds on the previous chairman Shaun Brown’s achievements and will be focussing on two main areas. Firstly I want to encourage more young people to join the industry and to get involved with the IAI’s varied programme of events, training and education.

“Secondly, I want to encourage more members, young and old, to continue their learning through the Institute’s CPD programme and to use this to help them attain the RegAI qualification. Both of these will contribute toward increasing awareness among architects and specifiers of the efforts that IAI members go to continue to develop their knowledge.”

The IAI is a sister organisation of the GAI and is open to individuals who are qualified GAI Diploma holders, GAI education programme students or experienced practitioners in the AI trade.