OFTEC’s 2014 Awards for Excellence were held on 24 June and showcased the best talent in the oil heating industry, with installers and manufacturers recognised for their achievements.
OFTEC’s 2014 Awards for Excellence were held on 24 June and showcased the best talent in the oil heating industry, with installers and manufacturers recognised for their achievements.
The event took place at Nailcote Hotel and Leisure Club near Coventry, as part of OFTEC’s new look ‘Big Event’ which included a trade show, seminar programme and member mini conference.
This year’s Awards attracted more than 170 guests and saw David Ewins from Cornwall-based Davanna Heating beat off stiff competition to pick up the title of Boiler Installer of the Year, with Stephen Owen of SC Owen in Reading receiving the award for Servicing and Commissioning Technician of the Year.
Oil Tank Installer of the Year was won Lee Stafford of LWL Heating in Brighton, while Daniel Pannell of Pembrokeshire Housing Association Ltd was highlighted as Trainee of the Year.
Irish firm Dunraven Systems Ltd in County Louth won the Innovative Product of the Year award for its OilPal web-enabled remote oil monitoring application.
For the first time since the Awards were launched in 2003, the categories included a Lifetime Achievement award which was presented to OFTEC founder Colin Sutherland MBE. He was recognised for his dedication to improving industry products and standards, including his work in spearheading the Competent Persons Scheme and establishing the Sutherland Tables in 1976 which have since become a recognised source of comparative UK domestic heating costs.
The other 2014 Awards for Excellence categories were won by: Worcester Bosch Group (Best Technical Support); Grant Engineering UK (Best Member Website); and METAC Training, County Laois, Ireland (Best Training Centre).
Speaking at The Big Event, OFTEC director general Jeremy Hawksley, said: “Our industry undoubtedly faces challenges going forward but with the current competitive price of oil, which is predicted to remain low, and a revival in oil boiler sales, we remain optimistic about the future. OFTEC will continue its valuable work at all levels, from the Government to the consumer, to safeguard and progress the oil heating industry.”