Paul Barrow, of Paul Barrow Builders from Pymoor, near Ely has received national recognition for his work by being named the winner of the Best Residential and Small Commercial Builder at the recent LABC Building Excellence Awards.
The awards, held at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel in London, are a showcase of both building projects and the people working in the construction industry and their commitment to excellence and innovation.
A panel of expert judges carefully reviewed a diverse range of exceptional projects, professionals and teams, recognising their invaluable contributions to the industry.
Paul saw off competition from 9 other regional winners to be crowned the overall champion, 17 years after taking the plunge and starting his own business.
The judges commented that Paul was the epitome of a local builder, consistently busy with a project schedule often booked more than 12 months in advance, nearly all of which is within 10 miles of his Little Downham base.
With around 25 years in the industry, and more than half of this having his own business, his commitment to delivering high-quality results is evident throughout each project.
Clients often wait over a year for his services, a testament to his reputation for excellence.
Paul has a great working relationship with the project architects and East Cambridgeshire District Council, ensuring all parties are kept informed of requirements and issues.
Speaking on what inspires him, Paul takes great pride in making a difference in people’s lives through his work. Whether helping disabled adults or children, the elderly, or vulnerable individuals, he is proud to have a positive impact on the local community.
He said “This is the culmination of 17 years blood, sweat and tears running my own company. There have been plenty of highs and lows throughout that time and to be recognised in this way by industry professionals really does mean the world.
“Having your own business can be a lonely place at times, worrying about keeping staff busy and paid or getting through periods like the pandemic.
“This recognition is the result of having a great team around me, both in terms of the staff who carry out the work with me as well as my family, offering support and guidance in the tough times. The local community is at the heart of everything we do, and I’m pleased the judges were able to see and acknowledge that.”
Craig Smith, Head of Building Control at East Cambs District Council who nominated Paul for the award, said “Paul’s consistent drive for quality and ensuring the customer is happy made him the perfect candidate for this award. He engages constantly with building control, making sure what he’s planning to do meets the building regs. The collaborative partnership we’ve built up over the years means potential issues are always ironed out before they become a problem. He is a worthy winner of this award.”
The LABC network is made up of more than 200 Local Authorities across the whole of England and Wales delivering Building Control to local communities.
Photo left to right: Hugh Dennis (compère), Paul Barrow and Jon Vanstone – Chair of the BSR Industry Competence Committee (one of the judges)
