The Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA) Awards 2015 were presented by top comedian Hal Cruttenden at a black-tie gala dinner on 8 October in front of a record 330 industry guests.

A highlight of the industry calendar, the annual INCA Awards recognise those INCA members at the forefront of innovation and design with the winners showcasing the highest quality standards. The coveted Project of the Year Award was won by Dryvit UK Ltd and Horbury Building Systems for their work on Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington. In the words of the independent judging panel, the ambitious and striking finish of this project helped to set it apart from the other worthy winners.

Mitch Gee of SPSenvirowall received the inaugural Outstanding Achievement Award for his passion and commitment to the EWI industry, while Kilwaughter Chemical Company and SPSenvirowall won the Sustainability and Training Awards respectively. Other winners on the night included Structherm Ltd, who picked up two awards, Alsecco UK Ltd, PRS Group, SERS Energy Solutions Ltd, VolkerLaser Ltd and Westdale Services.

Building on the huge success of last year’s event and with support from a range of stakeholders including CITB and QANW, the event at the spectacular 8 Northumberland in London was the perfect platform to showcase how EWI improves the energy efficiency of buildings, lifts households out of fuel poverty and
transforms local communities.

INCA Chairman Pádraig Barry said: “It is an honour to be the chairman of INCA at such a critical time for the EWI industry and, given the ongoing uncertainty within the industry, I am particularly impressed by the achievements of INCA members in this year’s INCA Awards. This year we have showcased not only life-changing refurbishment projects and innovation and design in the new build sector but also the people that make the EWI industry a specialist sector to be proud of. ”

The Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA) has welcomed the publication of the ‘Solid Wall Insulation: Unlocking Demand and Driving Up Standards’ report by Chief Construction Adviser Peter Hansford. In a speech at the report’s launch event, INCA Chairman Pádraig Barry welcomed the recommendations included in the report and the industry engagement during the review.

The report makes recommendations on what more might be done to unlock demand for SWI in domestic properties, how to improve its affordability and increase its attractiveness as a solution. These include adopting a holistic and co-ordinated approach to SWI and considerations to policy which INCA has urged DECC to take into account as they determine the future of home energy efficiency policy. In advance of the anticipated Government response INCA will continue to develop industry guidance, building on the INCA EWI Best Practice Guide which was published this year, and support the concept of a Retrofit Hub.

Following publication of this report it is vital that the focus on SWI is maintained in order to make a meaningful start on addressing the more than seven million households in Britain living in draughty and expensive-to-heat solid wall properties, including almost half of the country’s fuel poor, where solid wall insulation is the only solution. As such, the proposed leadership forum will be crucial and INCA will play a key role in this.

INCA Chairman Pádraig Barry said: “Given the current uncertainty in the industry, the publication of this report brings a very timely and much needed focus on the SWI market. I am especially pleased that this report recognises the multiple benefits of SWI and that adopting SWI as a solution makes good business sense. As the leading trade association for external wall insulation, INCA welcomes the publication of this report and will work with Government and industry partners to drive forward its recommendations.”

Chief Construction Adviser Peter Hansford said: “I would like to thank INCA for its valuable contribution throughout the review and I strongly advise industry to proceed with the actions arising from this report without waiting for the Government response.”