The winners of the 2025 British Coatings Federation (BCF) Awards were announced on Nov. 12 at Carden Park in Chester. More than 180 delegates came together at the event to celebrate the industry’s outstanding achievements.

Individuals across all sectors of the industry were recognized for their talent and accomplishments in three dedicated categories: Apprentice of the Year Award, won by Lisa Figuera-Cartwright from AkzoNobel; Young Leader of the Year Award, won by Connor Knowles from PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I; and Student of the Year Award, which saw Oliver Williams from Thermaset win.

The BCF also launched a new individual category for 2025, in memory of BCF’s late colleague Callum Plummer: the Rising Star Award. The Rising Star Award celebrates young individuals within a BCF member company, honoring employees who demonstrate exceptional potential, outstanding performance, and a strong commitment to their professional development early in their careers. The inaugural Rising Star Award was won by James Lund of Venator.

Recognizing investment in people, AkzoNobel and PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I were jointly awarded the Diversity and Inclusion Award, followed by Belzona being presented as the winner of the Excellence in Training Award.

The Sustainable Innovation Award was won by Alberdingk Boley for REN AC 8403, and the Race to Net Zero Award was won by Crown Paints.

The sustainability theme carried on through the evening with the Coatings Care Progress Award given to winning site Becker Industrial Coatings in Liverpool, and Overall Best Performer was awarded to Teal and Mackrill in Hull. The 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility Award was won by Crown Paints.

The Marketing Campaign of the Year was split into two categories, presented to PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I for Multinational and Inktech for SME. This year’s Customer Service was also split, won by Crown Paints in the Multinational category and H2 Compliance for SME.

“It is fantastic to see so much emerging talent in our sector, demonstrated in our Student, Apprentice and Young Leader of the Year categories,” BCF president Sharon Harte, managing director of Dacrylate Paints, says. “It was a particular honor for Dacrylate Paints to sponsor and to celebrate the finalists and inaugural winner of the Rising Star Award, launched in Callum’s memory. Many congratulations to all those who were shortlisted, but especially to the winners.”

A charity raffle fundraiser also took place during the evening for Young Lives vs Cancer, raising more than £3,000 for the charity.

The BCF would like to thank its Award sponsors, Stort Group, BASF, Verlingue, Dacrylate Paints, Xyntra, Fenton Packaging, Tronox, Paleus Acrylics and Lisam, for their support.

BCF Award Winners 2025

• Race to Net Zero Award 2025: Crown Paints

• Coatings Care Progress Award 2025: Becker Industrial Coatings, Liverpool

• Coatings Care Overall Best Performer Award 2025: Teal and Mackrill, Hull

• Marketing Campaign of the Year Multinational Award 2025: PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I – Johnstone’s Paint Partnership with the World Snooker Tour

• Marketing Campaign of the Year SME Award 2025: Inktech

• Sustainable Innovation Award 2025: Alberdingk Boley – REN AC 8403

• Corporate Social Responsibility Award 2025: Crown Paints – Project Possible

• Excellence in Training Award 2025: Belzona – Initial Training Seminar

• Customer Service Multinational Award 2025: Crown Paints

• Customer Service SME Award 2025: H2 Compliance

• Diversity and Inclusion Award 2025: AkzoNobel Decorative Paints and  PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I

• Student of the Year Award 2025: Oliver Williams, Thermaset

• Apprentice of the Year Award 2025: Lisa Figuera-Cartwright, AkzoNobel Industrial Coatings

• Rising Star Award 2025: James Lund, Venator

• Young Leader of the Year Award 2025: Connor Knowles, PPG Architectural Coatings UK&I