LONDON: More than 50 new Diploma holders were presented with their certificates at this year’s Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) Education Awards Lunch sponsored by Hafele.
The Diploma is the culmination of three years of study for the successful students and represents one of the most respected qualifications in the building industry. The ceremony also saw the three highest-placed students collect their prizes, plus the award of the Pinnacle Award to Cheryl Flinders from GEZE UK who achieved the best aggregate score over the three years of the education programme
Despite the straightened times in the construction industry, this year’s GAI Education Awards Lunch was sold out, a reflection of how highly regarded the event is as a recognition of the students’ hard work and an excellent networking opportunity.
It was held at the Royal Garden Hotel in London on 4 November with the certificates and prizes presented by ex-England and Leicester rugby star Austin Healey,
Fifty-five diplomas were awarded on the day with an impressive standard being achieved by the students in their exams. As part of the final year, students must sit a Business Studies Exam plus, crucially, a Scheduling paper where they must produce an ironmongery schedule for a specific project.
“The standards on the Scheduling paper were especially impressive this year,” said Keith Maer, the GAI’s education manager. “The top scores are usually between 85% and 88% – a remarkable compliment to the examination team for consistently putting a challenging paper before students. This year the top papers were true to form except one outstanding performer – a staggering almost 95%.”
