Peter Reid was recognised for his long career in the ductwork and air hygiene industry and his work with the National Association of Air Duct Specialists (NAADUK) which he, chairman Jonathan Brennan and other experts in the field set up in a bid to improve trade standards.

He was presented with the honour at the ninth annual HVR Awards at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel in London.

Mr Reid said: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to receive this Award, which came as an absolute surprise. The secret had been kept from me by my colleagues for many months beforehand. I believe our industry in the UK is truly leading the way in Indoor Air Quality standards and I am still delighted every day to be involved in it.”

Mr Reid runs Overclean, a national company dedicated to cleaning ductwork and the first in the UK to achieve ISO9001 in Air Hygiene Management and the new LPS 2084 standard set by insurance companies.  

He also delivers training courses for air hygiene technicians through AEME, which he founded in 1997.  

Over the years, Mr Reid has also developed machinery and equipment specific for cleaning ventilation systems.

The HVR Awards celebrate the work of top companies and individuals across the heating and ventilating sectors and the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mr Reid by David Dunn, managing director of sponsors Toshiba Air Conditioning.

He said of Mr Reid: “Tonight’s winner is a natural born teacher. He has had a significant influence in training having written a number of training manuals for air hygiene technicians and running approved training courses in the same field.

“He has developed software for use in risk assessment of ventilation ductwork, given expert evidence, has designed and built a remote camera system for ductwork and developed different types of cleaning systems.”

The Award came ahead of the NAADUK inaugural Scottish meeting, held on Friday November 16 and attended by Mr Reid and Mr Brennan.

The gathering was hosted by Scottish entrepreneur Simone Hart Sibbald, who is vice chair of NAADUK and has been mentored and encouraged by Mr Reid throughout her career in the duct-cleaning industry.

Ms Hart Sibbald, managing director of Stirling-based firm Perfect Service Solutions, said: “I am delighted to see Peter recognised with this Lifetime Achievement Award. There is no one more deserving of the honour for the dedication and commitment he provides and the hard work he puts in to ensure standards in the duct-cleaning industry are continually improving.

“I have known Peter for five years and during that time he has given freely of his time and knowledge in helping me improve and build my understanding and technical competency in a niche but growing industry. Peter has supported and encouraged not only me but members of my team. He cares about people and that is evident in his desire to keep industry standards high, teach and raise awareness.”

The first Scottish NAADUK meeting took place in Stirling with representatives from a variety of organisations, including London Fire Brigade, the National Health Service (NHS), the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), as well as executives from Scottish catering and duct-cleaning companies.

The plan is to further the aims of NAADUK in Scotland by working pan-industry to improve standards of maintenance and accessibility around grease extract systems and indoor air systems. 

The industry body works to educate, raise awareness and provide solutions to promote the health and safety of occupants in the workplace by reducing fire risk and improving air quality. 

Ms Hart Sibbald said: “NAADUK already works extensively throughout England and we’re extending our reach to equivalent organisations and associations across Scotland. We also want to help facilitate communication between Scottish members and ensure those working in the industry have a real say in how and where it grows.

“It’s also a great opportunity to network across industry sectors who touch on the areas of compliance and risk associated with ventilation. Some of our clients are also interested in becoming members, as the topics we cover contribute to their continuous professional development (CPD) in this area.”

NAADUK was established in 2014 and holds the first register for qualified trained duct-cleaners who have been taught by an accredited training provider in the UK.