Nearly 400 leading figures from the construction industry gathered at Trinity Park in Ipswich for the annual Suffolk Joint Consultative Commitee (SJCC) awards, which recognise excellence in design and craftsmanship.

The SJCC, which is this year celebrating its 60th anniversary, brings together together local members of professional construction bodies including the National Federation of Builders, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.

Its awards ceremony provides recognition for individuals, architectural practices and building companies, with the SJCC presenting awards to apprentices judged to have excelled in their training and development and RIBA Suffolk making awards for achievements in design and craftsmanship.

The apprentice awards are presented to young people who have shown a passion for the industry and a particular interest in developing their craft skills in order to enhance their professional development, with the judges taking into acccount a personal statement from each apprentice and feedback from their employer and college.

Robert Norman, chairman of the SJCC and managing director of Robert Norman Construction, based in Framlingham, said: “The SJCC awards supper has become the premier construction industry event for Suffolk.

“Each year, the number of entries for our apprenticeship awards grows, and what is particularly pleasing in our diamond anniversary year, is that we have received nominations from all of the colleges in the county running construction-based courses, Lowestoft, Otley, Suffolk New and West Suffolk colleges ? so many entries in fact that the shortlist totalled 30!”

Robert Norman added: “The SJCC supper not only gives the local construction industry an opportunity to network, but has enabled us to raise an impressive £3,000 for the Suffolk Accident Rescue Service (SARS).

“As an unsponsored, non-profit making trade forum, the SJCC has an important role to play, acting collaboratively on pan-industry and local issues and ensuring the collective opinions of our members are represented and lobbied to national organisations, professional bodies, as well as local and regional Government.”

John Norman, who retired as director for campus development at Suffolk New College in 2010, judges the RIBA Suffolk Craftsmanship Awards, a role he has played since 1993.

He said: “The SJCC awards supper presents the industry locally with an ideal opportunity to network and celebrate the best of Suffolk construction, both people and projects.

“Over the years, I have been immensely proud of excellent standards of skill and workmanship demonstrated by businesses and individuals in the county.”

As well as the annual supper, the SJCC acts as a collaborative forum at which industry-wide and local issues can be discussed, and through which the collective opinions of members can be represented to national organisations, professional bodies and the Government.