THE Scottish Building Federation (SBF) has hailed two of its Orkney-based members who were recognised at the annual Construction Awards of Excellence held in Birmingham.
Alfred Flett Ltd was named Best Building Contractor of the Year, while Casey Construction Ltd’s Paul Hewison took home the Outstanding Tradesperson Award.
The two projects that won Alfred Flett Ltd the Best Building Contractor (under £30 million turnover) category were the renovation of the Old Library in Kirkwall and the Mash House at Highland Park. MD Marty Flett said, “This recognition means a lot and reflects the effort, skill and craftsmanship that go into every project. We’re delighted to be bringing it home to Orkney!”
Meanwhile, Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Island, raised a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating both Alfred Flett Ltd and Paul Hewison, mentioning Paul for ‘demonstrating outstanding skill within his respective trade and consistently making a positive impact through his work’.
The Construction Awards of Excellence are a UK-wide celebration of the skill, dedication and pride shown by individuals and organisations throughout the sector.
Scottish Building Federation operations director Paul Mitchell was at the event to present the Excellence in Sustainable Construction award, which was sponsored by the Scottish Building Federation and given to Rochester-based Oscar Acoustics.
Mr Mitchell said, “We are incredibly proud to see Scottish Building Federation members shine at the Construction Awards of Excellence 2025 in Birmingham. The awards celebrate the exceptional skill, dedication and professionalism that underpin our industry, and both Alfred Flett’s success in the Best Building Contractor category and Paul Hewison’s Outstanding Tradesperson Award demonstrate a real commitment to quality, craftsmanship and leadership.
“It is fantastic to see Orkney-based firms representing the high standards of the Scottish construction sector on a national stage. Their achievements reflect the tremendous impact our members have, whether advancing sustainability, championing heritage and conservation, or driving forward excellence in safety and wellbeing.”
Alfred Flett Ltd was established in 1932 and has been family run since its beginnings.
Highland Park Mash House is a B listed building and focal point in Orkney for locals and tourists alike. Marty Flett added, “This project was a complete refurbishment along with a new heat recovery system being installed at the same time. The whole project was 12 months long, we certainly did raise a dram at the end.”
Meanwhile, the Old Library is one of Orkney’s most recognised buildings and the most northerly Carnegie Library in Europe.
Stonemason Paul Hewison was nominated for the award of Outstanding Tradesperson by his employer Casey Construction. His company put him forward for his work on the restoration of the external facade of the Orkney Islands Council’s historic office buildings, including carving intricate new stone features.
Paddy Casey, MD of Casey Construction, said, “We are immensely proud that Paul has been awarded Outstanding Tradesperson. His years of dedication to his craft, as well as his leadership and mentorship, has made a lasting impact on our company and everyone who works with him.
“Paul’s detailed knowledge of the craft is matched by his outstanding manual skills and as an unassuming character we are really pleased that he has received the national recognition that he deserves.”
