More than 240 delegates from Independent Network companies across the UK came together at the organisation’s ‘Best of British’ themed members’ weekend in Warwick.
The event kicked off with a specially built Business Centre, where attendees could chat to I.N’s affiliate partners and learn more about the opportunities for members to gain favourable rates and unique services thanks to their I.N. membership.
In the afternoon, Finance Director Graham Fitton welcomed members, reviewed the financial results for 2017 and conducted the official AGM business before Sales Director Neil Evans discussed recent market developments and expectations for the year ahead.
Marketing Director Dawn Stockell highlighted the increase in I.N. brand awareness and leads over the past year and was delighted to announce two exciting pieces of exclusive news for members. One: that FENSA will now be recognising the I.N. insurance-backed guarantee and Two: …was shared with members, but will be announced to all in the coming weeks!
Business Consultant, Jeff Grout, rounded off the afternoon by encouraging members to think more critically about effective leadership and what makes a respected leader in the ‘real world’.
The evening’s glittering black tie gala dinner and awards ceremony was hosted by ex-Bradford City Player and Manager Chris ‘Kammy’ Kamara and included a charity raffle and auction, which – along with table donations – raised over £4000 for the evening’s four chosen charities: Hayley’s Hugs, Helping Hand, St Gemma’s Hospice and Birchwood Highland.
This year’s award winners were:
Thistle Windows & Conservatories
Cheadle Glass Company Ltd
Goliath Homeworld
Wilson Windows
Ffenestri Kevin Thomas
Mews Windows
I.N. awards are based on the feedback of thousands of customer satisfaction surveys completed each year by homeowners and are decided on a like-for-like basis (with companies competing against other comparable businesses across the country).
This year’s event also saw two brand new awards celebrating the hard work of individuals working within Independent Network member companies. Darren Drake of David Brunskill Windows took home ‘Installer of the Year’ and Paul Lewington of Lewington & Son claimed the first ever ‘Salesperson of the Year’ trophy.
Karen Lund, Head of Partner Programmes, had this to say of the weekend: “As these awards celebrate the successes of our finest I.N. members up and down the country, we thought that the ‘Best of British’ would be a very apt theme… and it gave us all the chance to try a host of specially selected gins, beers, wine and whisky while we danced the night away!
“The theme ran throughout the event, with guests enjoying afternoon tea, a gin bar, Britpop disco, and well-deserved ‘traditional’ 1am curry!
“It’s been a thrill, once again, to highlight those companies that really go above and beyond. All the winners, and the nominees, deserve to be incredibly proud of themselves; they have been pitted against the best of the best and to have come out on top means they really have proven themselves to be the ‘cream of the crop’.”
