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BSW Timber, the largest timber business in the UK and a member of BSW Group, picked up another two awards at this year’s Builders Merchant Journal (BMJ) Awards and Timber Trades Journal (TTJ) Awards.

The sawmilling giant was named Timber Supplier of the Year at the BMJ Awards for the second year in a row, while saw doctor Jamie Duncan took home the Under 25s Career Development Award at the TTJ event.

Jamie’s success was also the second successive victory for a Fort William employee, after Electrical Supervisor Stuart Matheson claimed the same award at the prestigious TTJ Awards in 2021.

Jamie, first an apprentice and now a fully qualified saw doctor, said: I’m very proud to receive this award. I enjoyed my development, both at UHI and in the workplace, and there was a great balance between learning on and off site.

“I received amazing support at the college and would also like to thank the tradesmen on site for enabling me to achieve this.

“I’d definitely recommend this pathway to others and can’t wait to continue learning and developing my skills at BSW.”

BSW Group Learning and Development Manager Tony Lockey said Jamie’s victory was well earned, given his exemplary attitude while studying for his qualification.

He explained: “Jamie has shown incredible focus and determination to gain his apprenticeship through a period of the pandemic, and he had very positive comments from the Inverness College assessors, who said it was a pleasure to work with him.

“These awards highlight the calibre of all our apprentices at BSW Group, as well as the level of training they receive both in the workplace and in the colleges. This type of award also sends a positive message to the local community in which Jamie grew up in and now works.’’

Olly Stephen, Mill Manager at BSW Fort William, added: “I am delighted for Jamie to receive this recognition. He has put a lot of hard work and effort into completing his apprenticeship and should be a real inspiration to his peers and other young people in Lochaber, as he has demonstrated what can be achieved when you put your mind to it.”

The TTJ event, which took place at the InterContinental in London, followed the BMJ Awards at the Grand Connaught Rooms, also in the capital, where BSW scooped Timber Supplier of the Year. Sales Director Dave Chapman also placed third in the Supplier Account Manager of the Year award.