Earlier this year, we launched the second Local Hero Awards, and Brits were encouraged to nominate builders, plumbers, electricians, joiners, plasterers, and other well deserving tradespeople who have been serving their community with good deeds.
Last year, hero builder Graham Nash of Pinnacle Builders in Leeds was crowned the winner in the inaugural awards, when he won the public poll (with 39% of the 2,000+ votes), thanks to his incredible hard work correcting the errors made by cowboy builders whilst working at the homes of ordinary people. Going above and beyond, Mr Nash even made the corrections completely free of charge.
As manufacturers and suppliers of air compressors, gas struts, tool chests, power tools, garage equipment, garden tools and much more to the trade, we’ve been amazed at the stories of generosity and skill shown across our industry over the past 12 months.
Our awards nominations page closed on Friday 5th April, and the team here at SGS have gone through all the dozens of heart-warming entries before carefully selecting our finalists.
The public vote for this year’s edition has now opened, enabling friends and family, as well as the wider community, a chance to rally behind their local finalist in the hope of securing them a grand prize of £1,000, alongside the honour of being named the nation’s ‘Local Hero 2022’. An additional four regional finalists will take home a £250 runners-up cash prize.
Voting closes at 11:30pm on Monday 2nd May, so don’t delay!
The Finalists are (in alphabetical order) …
Ash Haynes – Bruno’s Eco Services (Swansea, Wales)
Ash responded to the cost-of-living crisis and the isolation brought on by the pandemic by offering to do gardening, cleaning and landscaping work for free for those in need. Ash also kindly offered up the time to talk to anyone who needed some company.
Band of Builders - (Wisbech, England)
A volunteer group made up of trade professionals, Band of Builders raised thousands of pounds to help people living within their local community and beyond. In the past year they have clubbed together to complete free-of-charge building work for those in need across the country.
Darren McGhee - DMG Services Group (Bellshill, Scotland)
DMG services, a roofing company, went above and beyond when they offered free repairs for elderly people, and have also kindly offered apprenticeships for unemployed people in the local area.
James Anderson - Depher (Burnley, England)
A kind-hearted plumber, James has responded to the energy price crisis by continuing his fantastic work with Depher, standing for Disability and Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Repair.
Depher has completed vital plumbing work for elderly and unwell people who were desperately in need.
Naima Ben-Moussa – Lady in Red Plastering (Buxton, England)
Naima is a female plasterer who has thrived in a traditionally male dominated industry, making the headlines by fixing walls destroyed by domestic abusers for free. More recently, she has even set up her own charity to help domestic abuse survivors.
One Transformations Group (Pontypool, Wales) (Pontypool, Wales)
Volunteers from the company teamed up with other local businesses to create a wonderful garden for a local blind woman after a rogue builder had left it in a sorry state.
Steve Parker - Parkers Plumbing and Bathroom Installations (Northampton, England)
Steve is a plumber who kindly offered to fix the boilers of elderly people aged 65 and over that live near his local village of Irchester during the winter.