Education Awards

The educational achievements of the door and window hardware industry’s rising stars were celebrated at the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers’ (GAI) annual Education Awards.

Held at the Royal Lancaster hotel in London on November 9, the awards celebrate the architectural ironmongery professionals who have achieved a GAI qualification in the Certificate in Architectural Hardware or Diploma this year.

Of the 87 learners who attained the Certificate in Architectural Hardware, and the 53 students who completed the full GAI Diploma, seven also received awards at the prestigious ceremony.

Since 1980, the GAI Education Awards have included gold, silver and bronze awards for the top students in the Diploma, and the Pinnacle Award, sponsored by Assa Abloy, which is given to the student with the best aggregate results over the three years of the Diploma programme.

Eryl Jones, managing director of Assa Abloy Security Solutions, presented this year’s Pinnacle Award to Lee Gardner, technical manager of ME Duffell. In his job, Lee uses his product knowledge and experience to help with product training and to manage the technical team.

“I knew I had loads of product knowledge, but through the Diploma I learnt so much more,” Lee said. “I’m now in charge of internal staff training and will be encouraging my colleagues to go for this excellent qualification.”

Jean-Louis Bramwell from Allgood won the GAI Diploma Gold award for attaining the highest score in the final stage of the Diploma programme.

The winners and newly qualified Diploma holders were presented with their awards by David Stacey, president of the GAI, and the event’s keynote speaker and England rugby star, Matt Dawson.