Local youngster Oliver Walker has scooped the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ prize in the prestigious British Woodworking Federation’s (BWF) awards.

These annual awards honour the UK’s very best businesses and individuals within the woodworking and joinery manufacturing industry, which is worth £3.8 billion to the UK economy.

The 18-year old from Shirland, near Alfreton, was recognised for his outstanding achievements, commitment and personal development, beating two other hopefuls shortlisted in the category.

The 3rd Year apprentice joined Gowercroft Joinery, the Derbyshire based manufacturer of high-end timber windows and doors, in 2015 at the start of his second year of the Bench Joinery apprenticeship at Learning Unlimited via Chesterfield College.

While completing his apprenticeship he displayed exceptional commitment and his work on the design and assembly of a bespoke window sample for a property in Mayfair even helped secure an order for windows and doors totaling over six figures in revenue.

A delighted Oliver said:

“I’m so happy to have won this award. To be recognised not only by my employer but also by the industry as a whole is fantastic! This apprenticeship has improved my skills hugely. My long term goal is to run my own joinery company - something I wouldn’t have thought was possible before this apprenticeship!”

Managing Director of Gowercroft Joinery, Andrew Madge said:

“We’re delighted for Oliver. He really deserves this recognition for all the hard work, drive and commitment that he has shown while he has been with us.

We are committed to providing a dedicated learning environment for new youngsters joining our industry and Oliver is one of six excellent apprentices we currently have at Gowercroft.”

Gowercroft Joinery manufactures premium quality doors and windows for residential newbuild properties through to historic listed homes and prestigious architectural projects.

The company supplied bespoke windows and doors for the 2017 Stirling Prize shortlisted ‘Photography Studio for Juergen Teller’ and its newly launched Heritage range of windows, designed specifically for the conservation market, recently won the ‘Best Windows’ category of the 2017 Build It Awards.

For more information about Gowercroft Joinery,

Telephone: 01773 300 510. Fax: 01773 300 511

Email: info@gowercroft.com Web: www.gowercroft.co.uk