Press release – UK coatings sector celebrates excellence at the 2024 BCF Awards

The winners of the 2024 British Coatings Federation (BCF) Awards were announced on 6th November at The Milner Hotel in York. 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 Elliott Taylor from AkzoNobel; Young Leader of the Year Award, won by Catherine Friar from Hexigone Inhibitors and Student of the Year Award, which saw Catherine Gibson from PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I win. The celebration of emerging talent in the sector underpins the BCF’s work with their Coatings NextGen Council, a dedicated group committed to promoting awareness of careers opportunities and development within the coatings industry.

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

The Sustainable Innovation Multinational Award was won by Sun Chemical for AquaHeat Inks, and the Sustainable Innovation SME Award was presented to Belzona for SF6-FIX. The second Race to Net Zero award had joint winners Crown Paints in the Multinational category and Anstey Wallpaper Company for SME. This follows the award’s launch in 2023 to coincide with the launch of BCF’s Net Zero Roadmap.

The sustainability theme carried on through the evening with the Coatings Care Progress Award was given to winning site Steyport in Blackburn, and Overall Best Performer was awarded to AkzoNobel Decorative Paints in Ashington. This year’s Corporate Social Responsibility Award was split into two categories, won by decorative paint reuse schemes Community RePaint (sponsored by AkzoNobel) in the Multinational category and social enterprise Seagulls Reuse for SME.

The Customer Service Award was also split, presented to Crown Paints for Multinational and Thermaset for SME. For Marketing Campaign of the Year, it was Valspar’s ‘V&ME’ campaign that took home the award for Sherwin-Williams.

BCF President, Sharon Harte, Managing Director of Dacrylate Paints, commented: “It is so exciting to see so much young talent in our sector, demonstrated in our Student, Apprentice and Young Leader of the Year categories. Many congratulations to all those who were shortlisted, but especially to the winners”.

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

BCF Award Winners 2024

Sustainable Innovation Multinational Award 2024
Sun Chemical – AquaHeat Inks
Sponsored by Tronox

Sustainable Innovation SME Award 2024
Belzona – SF6-FIX
Sponsored by Xyntra

Race to Net Zero Multinational Award 2024
Crown Paints

Race to Net Zero SME Award 2024
Anstey Wallpaper Company

Corporate Social Responsibility Multinational Award 2024
AkzoNobel – Dulux - Community RePaint

Corporate Social Responsibility SME Award 2024
Seagulls Reuse

Customer Service Multinational Award 2024
Crown Paints – Customer Care Team
Sponsored by BioCote

Customer Service SME Award 2024
Thermaset – The Thermaset Way

Diversity and Inclusion Award 2024
PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I
Sponsored by BASF

Marketing Campaign of the Year Award 2024
Sherwin-Williams – Valspar – V&ME Campaign

Excellence in Training Award 2024
AkzoNobel – Future Ready Workforce Initiative
Sponsored by Lisam

Student of the Year Award 2024
Catherine Gibson, PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I
Sponsored by Synthomer

Apprentice of the Year Award 2024
Elliott Taylor, AkzoNobel Industrial Coatings
Sponsored by Stort Group

Young Leader of the Year Award 2024
Dr Catherine Friar, Hexigone Inhibitors
Sponsored by Fenton Packaging

Coatings Care Progress Award 2024
Steyport, Blackburn

Coatings Care Overall Best Performer Award 2024
AkzoNobel Decorative Paints, Ashington
Sponsored by Verlingue

Image: All Award winners on stage at the 2024 BCF Awards ceremony in York

ENDS