Builders’ merchant, Jewson, has awarded five Trade Heroes and 32 regional projects from across Britain a share of a £250,000 prize fund as part of its Building Better Communities competition.

The top winner of this year’s Trade Hero category, Stephen Keenan, from Halifax, has been given £50,000 worth of building materials to support his social enterprise, Happy Days Building and Roofing Company. To help complete community building projects, the organisation recruits and trains people who have previously experienced addiction and homelessness and helps them get back on their feet and into the job market.

Joining Stephen as winners of the Trade Hero awards were David Lloyd, John Simkins, Steve Dixon and Aaron Pearson who were all crowned runners-up and won £10,000 each.

Flooring contractor, David, will use his winnings to support a charity he is involved with, Team Reece. Team Reece is aiming to buy and renovate a home in the UK, so terminally ill children that can’t travel can still have a holiday with their families.

Meanwhile John Simkins, a builder from Hampshire, will use his prize to renovate a house for a close friend to suit the needs of her disabled son. He plans to install thicker carpets, black out blinds, sensory lighting, and other amenities in the home that will make the young man’s life a little easier.

Mansfield site engineering surveyor, Steve Dixon, is a husband and dad to four children. Steve is currently in hospital undergoing rehab following a series of health complications. Using the £10,000 from Building Better Communities, Steve’s family will upgrade his home to suit his needs, widening the doors and installing a new wet room.

Plasterer, Aaron Pearson from Denmead was the final Trade Hero who will use his £10,000 in materials to help a local autism charity.

As part of the Jewson Building Better Communities competition, the Trade Hero category celebrates those in the construction industry who work behind the scenes to make their neighbourhoods better places to live. At the event, the 2018 Trade Heroes and the and 32 local projects were presented with prizes by renowned architect and TV personality, George Clarke.

George Clarke commented:

“It’s people like this who help bring a community closer together and Jewson does great work in celebrating and supporting them with Building Better Communities. It’s always great to see so many happy faces at the awards presentation.

“Through the £250,000 prize fund, the winners can continue to do their fantastic work and I’d like to congratulate them on their deserved success.”

Jewson Managing Director, Thierry Dufour, added:

“There are some fantastic people working in the construction industry who sometimes go unnoticed so we take great pride in finding and celebrating those people. We also help that, through their prize, these unsung heroes can continue the great work they’re already doing and, in turn, help build even better communities where they live.”

Building Better Communities is being supported by Jewson supplier brands: Velux; Marshalls, Polypipe; British Gypsum; Tarmac; Recticel and Norbord. To see the full list of winners, visit: www.buildingbettercommunities.co.uk