Timber products firm scoops national awards double

Bespoke timber products firm Gowercroft Joinery is celebrating after scooping two national awards.

The firm, which is a leader in innovative timber window and door solutions, scored the double success at the recent British Woodworking Federation Awards 2024.

The Derbyshire firm picked up the Sustainability Award, while Lilli-Mae Broadhurst bagged individual honours as she was named Apprentice of the Year.

The Sustainability Award recognises Gowercroft’s commitment to environmental excellence.

It highlights the firm’s pioneering use of Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) to evaluate and minimise the environmental impact of its products.

By analysing the full lifecycle of its timber windows and doors, the company has implemented improvements, including reducing carbon emissions, using responsibly sourced materials and enhancing energy efficiency in manufacturing.

These efforts are backed by comprehensive Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) that demonstrate true ‘cradle-to-gate’ and ‘cradle-to-grave’ environmental performance, setting Gowercroft apart from others in the fenestration sector.

Joe Grimley, sales director at Gowercroft Joinery, said: “Winning the Sustainability Award in the woodworking sector, which uses the only truly sustainable building material, is an incredible achievement.

“The fenestration sector suffers from a lot of ‘greenwashing,’ but we go beyond the claims, demonstrating genuine environmental performance through our detailed EPDs. This award validates our commitment to creating a sustainable future.”

Lilli-Mae’s success recognises the firm’s approach to nurturing young talent.

After joining Gowercroft as a sales administration apprentice in 2023, she rapidly progressed to the role of partnerships manager, supporting a national network of dealers.

Managing director Andrew Madge said: “Developing people is something we take very seriously at Gowercroft.

“We are proud members of the 5% Club, and 11% of our workforce is currently in active training.

“Lilli-Mae has been a revelation since she joined us in 2023. She is now spearheading our successful distributor network, showing remarkable initiative and leadership.

“These awards highlight everything we stand for: strong ethics, innovating to protect the environment, and a commitment to upskilling talented individuals like Lilli-Mae to build a brighter future. We couldn’t be prouder of what our team has achieved together.”