EACH year our independent judging panel selects the winners in each category for the CFJ Awards. In June, our panel met over Zoom to choose their winners. However, the panel had been hard at work for a month beforehand, evaluating each finalist so their arguments were ready for the big day.

This year the panel consists of head judge, Richard Renouf, an independent flooring consultant; Tony Mathe, director at Hillside Contracts; Graeme Dewar, a chartered surveyor; and our new judge, Kelly Gayle of AG Flooring.

Each year we’re asked if the winners are fairly chosen and each year we illuminate the fact our judges are more independent than the UK Supreme Court. The judging process is transparent and untainted with any outside influence. Contractors who judge, for instance, aren’t permitted to have their own entries.

Unfortunately, not everyone can win, and sometimes one entrant will win several awards. But this is purely down to the quality of entries. If you win an award at the CFJ Awards, you can take for granted that you’ve done an exemplary job and thoroughly deserve the accolade based on its merits.

Each year, the quality of entries has improved exponentially. The fact so many companies take such pride in entering their best installations is one of the factors that has made our awards such a success.

This year it will be held on Friday 5 September, once again at the Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire. The exciting news is that Jack Skipper from South London has been announced as this year’s comedian.

Jack has recently gone from being a carpet fitter with no qualifications to an internet sensation and full-time comedian.

He’ll follow in the footsteps of several high-profile comedians who’ve appeared at the awards over the years, including Rev Richard Coles, Jo Caulfield, and Hal Cruttenden. However, the fact he comes from the flooring industry is a first.

Jack has become a standout voice in British comedy, earning widespread recognition for his sharp observations on working-class life and family dynamics. His humour has resonated with audiences across social media, amassing more than 16 million likes on TikTok and a loyal following of 360,000 on Instagram.

His rapid rise through the comedy ranks has been marked by significant accolades. In 2022, he was a runner-up in the esteemed So You Think You’re Funny? New Comedian of the Year competition. This year, he continued his momentum, reaching the final of the Komedia New
Act contest.