COVENTRY, UK — The British Coatings Federation (BCF) announced the 2019 winners of the 10^th BCF Awards at a ceremony in November. The awards celebrate the success in coatings, wallcoverings and printing inks industries and showcase the achievements of BCF member companies and individuals.

Three new categories were introduced for 2019. Diversity and Inclusion was the first category to be recognized. Inktech received the award, with U-POL being highly commended for its entry. Receiving more entries than any other category, the Marketing Campaign of the Year award was presented to U-POL while both Dulux Trade (AkzoNobel Decorative Paints UK&I) and PPG (Architectural Coatings UK and Ireland) were highly commended for their campaigns. Celebrating young talent in the industry, Brannon Lee of Dacrylate Paints received the Apprentice of the Year award.

The 2019 Awards continued to celebrate great talent in the coatings industry with wins for Young Leader of the Year, picked up by Dayne Fletcher of Inktech. Mark Mills from Whitford (now a part of PPG) received the Student of the Year award. Further on the training theme, PPG (Architectural Coatings UK & Ireland) received the Excellence in Training Award. AkzoNobel was highly commended for its entry.

Highlighting sustainability within the coatings industry, the Sustainable Innovation Award was given to PPG (Architectural Coatings UK & Ireland). BCF’s longstanding Coatings Care Awards were presented to two BCF member companies participating in the program – the Coatings Care Overall Best Performer Award went to AkzoNobel Packaging for its site in Birmingham, and Whitford (now a part of PPG) in Runcorn received the Coatings Care Progress award.

Two companies were declared winner for the Customer Service Award: AkzoNobel and Inktech respectively. The Corporate Social Responsibility award was presented to HMG Paints. Organik Kimya was highly commended in this category.

Tom Bowtell, BCF Chief Executive, said, “At such an unsettling time for our industry, it was great to come together in order to celebrate all that is fantastic in the coatings industry, with the event continuing to grow year by year.  The competition was the toughest yet, so many congratulations to all those who were shortlisted, but especially to the winners.”