British Coatings Federation announced it was named Trade Association of the Year at the 2026 Trade Association Forum Awards.

The awards ceremony, held February 26 at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, brought together more than 400 association professionals from across the United Kingdom to recognize excellence in governance, member engagement, innovation and sector leadership.

In addition to receiving the top honor, the British Coatings Federation was highly commended in the Event of the Year (Under 500 Attendees) category for its 2025 Charity Cycle: Ride Warwickshire. The event raised more than £25,000 for The Myton Hospices.

“We are incredibly proud to be named Trade Association of the Year once again,” said Tom Bowtell, chief executive of the British Coatings Federation. “This award reflects the engagement of our members and the collaborative spirit that drives everything we do.”

The federation represents companies across the coatings, inks and wallcoverings sectors and supports members through policy engagement, sustainability initiatives, skills development and best-practice programs.