A plumber who has helped keep the Royal Pavilion’s old pipes in order and was named Plumber of the Year in the south east has finished third in the national final of the competition.
Steve Gray, owner of Steve Gray Gas Services Ltd, was one of the 12 regional finalists to make the national finals in the first national Plumber Awards.
Mr Gray, 53, from Hove, received the accolade “in recognition of his outstanding commitment to customer service, high standards of compliance, as well as decades of expertise in delivering both domestic and specialist plumbing solutions”.
The organisers said: “His winning entry detailed the complex work carried out while maintaining plumbing systems at the Royal Pavilion as well as his work in a social care property where he successfully installed and maintained a system for its residents.
Mr Gray said: “Being part of the awards in its first year and being named best in the south east is a real honour. To then be in the top three in the UK is obviously a real highlight.
“The awards process is thorough and judges look at so many different parts of your work and your business – it’s not an easy award to win.
“Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for me – I had a great time at the event and spent time with many passionate professionals from across the industry. Now it’s back to the day job!”
Previously Mr Gray said: “It has been a real privilege to be able to work at the Royal Pavilion, helping to maintain its historic plumbing systems to ensure they continue to work safely and reliably.
“I’m also incredibly proud of the work I’ve done in the community, especially on projects where I can make a real difference to people’s wellbeing.”
The regional winners were selected by a panel of industry experts, professional associations and experienced plumbers during a day-long judging process held at Polypipe Building Products.
The judges said that entries – from experts in drainage, emergency call-outs, blockages and renovations – were of an incredibly high standard, setting a high bar in the awards’ first year.
Laura Mashiter, the founder of The Plumber Awards, said: “Steve’s entry stood out because of the breadth of his experience and the positive impact his work has on the people and communities he serves.
“From helping to maintain an important historic building, to delivering vital plumbing services in social care settings, he consistently demonstrates the skill, professionalism and dedication that define the very best of the industry.”
The organisers added: “Around 150,000 qualified plumbers are working across the UK right now to ensure our homes have clean drinking water, safe waste disposal and efficient heating.
“As frontline defenders of modern sanitation and safe living environments, plumbers deserve to be celebrated. The Plumber Awards has been set up to do just that.”
The annual awards are intended to create a positive talking point in the industry, working to promote the excellent customer service delivered by plumbers which can often go unrecognised.
The winners were announced on Wednesday 24 June at the Installer Show at the Birmingham NEC.
