Press release – 2025 BCF Awards Celebrate Professionals Shaping the Future of Coatings

Image: Award winners on stage at the 2025 BCF Awards ceremony in Chester

The winners of the 2025 British Coatings Federation (BCF) Awards were announced on 12th November at Carden Park in Chester. Over 180 delegates came together at the event to celebrate the industry’s outstanding achievements.

Individuals across all sectors of the industry were recognised for their talent and accomplishments in three dedicated categories: Apprentice of the Year Award, won by Lisa Figuera-Cartwright from AkzoNobel; Young Leader of the Year Award, won by Connor Knowles from PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I and Student of the Year Award, which saw Oliver Williams from Thermaset win. 

The BCF also launched a new individual category for 2025, in memory of BCF’s late colleague Callum Plummer: the Rising Star Award. The Rising Star Award celebrates young individuals within a BCF member company, honouring employees who demonstrate exceptional potential, outstanding performance, and a strong commitment to their professional development early in their careers. The inaugural Rising Star Award was won by James Lund of Venator.

Recognising investment in people, AkzoNobel and PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I were jointly awarded the Diversity and Inclusion Award, followed by Belzona being presented as the winner of the Excellence in Training Award.

The Sustainable Innovation Award was won by Alberdingk Boley for REN AC 8403, and the Race to Net Zero Award was won by Crown Paints.

The sustainability theme carried on through the evening with the Coatings Care Progress Award was given to winning site Becker Industrial Coatings in Liverpool, and Overall Best Performer was awarded to Teal and Mackrill in Hull. The 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility Award was won by Crown Paints.

The Marketing Campaign of the Year was split into two categories, presented to PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I for Multinational and Inktech for SME. This year’s Customer Service was also split , won by Crown Paints in the Multinational category and H2 Compliance for SME.

BCF President, Sharon Harte, Managing Director of Dacrylate Paints, commented: “It is fantastic to see so much emerging talent in our sector, demonstrated in our Student, Apprentice and Young Leader of the Year categories. It was a particular honour for Dacrylate Paints to sponsor and to celebrate the finalists and inaugural winner of the Rising Star Award, launched in Callum’s memory. Many congratulations to all those who were shortlisted, but especially to the winners”.

Image: Award-winning magician Ben Hanlin entertaining the ceremony delegates

The awards ceremony was hosted by magician Ben Hanlin, who thoroughly entertained delegates. A charity raffle fundraiser also took place during the evening for Young Lives vs Cancer, raising more than £3,000 for the charity.

The BCF would like to thank our Award sponsors, Stort Group, BASF, Verlingue, Dacrylate Paints, Xyntra, Fenton Packaging, Tronox, Paleus Acrylics and Lisam for their support.

BCF Award Winners 2025

Race to Net Zero Award 2025
Crown Paints
Sponsored by Xyntra

Coatings Care Progress Award 2025
Becker Industrial Coatings, Liverpool

Coatings Care Overall Best Performer Award 2025
Teal and Mackrill, Hull
Sponsored by Verlingue

Marketing Campaign of the Year Multinational Award 2025
PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I - Johnstone's Paint Partnership with the World Snooker Tour

Marketing Campaign of the Year SME Award 2025
Inktech

Sustainable Innovation Award 2025
Alberdingk Boley - REN AC 8403
Sponsored by Tronox

Corporate Social Responsibility Award 2025
Crown Paints – Project Possible
Sponsored by Lisam

Excellence in Training Award 2025
Belzona – Initial Training Seminar

Customer Service Multinational Award 2025
Crown Paints 

Customer Service SME Award 2025
H2 Compliance

Diversity and Inclusion Award 2025
AkzoNobel Decorative Paints
PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I
Sponsored by BASF

Student of the Year Award 2025
Oliver Williams, Thermaset
Sponsored by Paleus Acrylics

Apprentice of the Year Award 2025
Lisa Figuera-Cartwright, AkzoNobel Industrial Coatings
Sponsored by Stort Group

Rising Star Award 2025
James Lund, Venator
Sponsored by Dacrylate Paints

Young Leader of the Year Award 2025
Connor Knowles, PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I
Sponsored by Fenton Packaging




ENDS