Band of Builders’ founder scoops national award

Band of Builders founder Addam Smith has scooped a national award, winning £50,000 worth of building materials to put towards future projects to help tradesmen in need.

Addam has been declared winner of the ‘Trade Hero’ category of Jewson’s Building Better Communities competition – a nationwide scheme supporting building projects and communities up and down the country.

The award will allow soon-to-be charity Band of Builders to help even more people, with the £50,000 going towards projects to help members of the construction community and their families in their hour of need.

Addam was presented with his prize at a special ceremony held at the University of Nottingham by Jewson chief executive Mark Rayfield and TV presenter George Clarke.

The landscaper, from Lincoln, said: “I’m still blown away to have won this award. The £50,000 gives us a real kickstart on the projects we’re planning to help people who really need it and is a great start to the future of Band of Builders, which we’re already in the process of forming into a charity.

“As ever, I’ve been blown away by the support we’ve received and want to thank everybody for their help in getting us such a prestigious award.”

The Trade Hero award was introduced to the Building Better Communities competition this year to celebrate those in the construction industry who work tirelessly behind the scenes to help their communities. The competition also saw another Trade Hero recognised, while 24 regional projects also got a share of the £250,000 prize fund.

George Clarke, who presented Addam with his award, said: “I’ve been so impressed with the projects and amount of causes helped over the past few years, so it’s been an honour to have supported the Building Better Communities competition from Jewson.

“The funds donated will help the groups and charities make huge improvements to their buildings and, ultimately, make a difference to the communities of today and of the future.”

Band of Builders was formed as part of Addam’s efforts to help friend and colleague Keith Ellick who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in late 2015.

After recruiting tradesmen from across the UK to help with a DIY SOS-style renovation of Keith’s home, Addam went on to raise enough money to buy the council-owned property.

Keith died in March this year, but his legacy is the movement sparked by Addam’s efforts to help him which has become known as Band of Builders – an organisation set to become a charity to help tradesmen in need, either through similar projects or grants and assistance.

As well as selling its own range of branded workwear, Band of Builders carries out fundraising events and has secured widespread support from organisations and celebrities.

Clare Harding, Marketing Services Director at Jewson, said: “When we launched the Trade Hero category, we knew that we’d see some inspiring stories emerge. Addam and David both work tirelessly to help people around them and we’re proud to be supporting their work.

“We know there are community groups doing great work up and down the country, and they all deserve to be given a much-needed helping hand. We’re glad that we’ve been able to give them some of the resources they need to continue improving the lives of people around them.”