It was without doubt a glittering evening. The great and the good of efig gathered to celebrate their annual awards.
There was good reason to celebrate. In total 48 Awards were presented to recognise members’ great designs, careful maintenance, personal achievements and special events. The whole evening was sponsored by Dutch supplier Koberg BV.
It has to be said that the Club Tropicana theme , staged in Portland Place, did not exactly live up to the words of the famous hit record of the same name.
“Castaways and Lovers meet,
Then kiss in Tropicana’s heat,
Watch the waves break on the bay.
Soft white sands, a blue lagoon,
Cocktail time, a summer’s tune,
A whole night’s holiday!”
I headed for home around 11 30, the party was just getting into full swing , so castaways and lovers could have met up later.
The many awards were presented by Carole Plukaard (pictured left with Ian Drummond of Indoor Garden Design). Carole explained she was a last minute stand- in but despite that she handed out the gongs with flair and humour.
eFIG is an independent, non-profit making organisation, funded by its members that continually strives to increase its membership and promote the Interior Landscaping Industry.
The organisation continually strives to raise awareness of the benefits of plants. Research has found that plants can benefit businesses and their workforce in a variety of ways, from better health, more productivity, and even financial savings. Just one plant is all you need to make a difference.
Having plants indoors brings a real sense of the inside and outside merging, creating a more relaxed and comfortable working environment. Research has shown that employees working in
a space which looks and feels good feel more appreciated by their superiors who have created that environment for them.
Research has established that plants have a calming effect, particularly for those sat behind a computer screen for more than 4 hours a day. The effect of this is greater concentration and increased productivity, raising efficiency by as much as 12%.
Many of their members are also outside landscapers that have found that interior work not only worthwhile it can also be profitable especially during periods of inclement weather.
The awards were as follows:
Design & Installation
Less than £5K
Urban Planters Oxon LeasePlan UK Ltd Gold
Urban Planters Northampton & Peterborough News International Gold
Indoor Garden Design Audio Network Gold
Urban Planters Birmingham Crowne Plaza Hotel Silver
Flora-Tec Ltd Cobb Europe Silver
Flora-Tec Ltd Kinnarps Silver
Flora-Tec Ltd Samsung, London Silver
Plantforce BMI Healthcare Silver
Urban Planters London West Grass Valley (Stockley Park) Silver
Design & Installation
£5 – 10K
Urban Planters Franchise Ltd Hotel La Tour, Birmingham Gold
Green Teak Interiors Autodesk Ltd Gold
Urban Planters Derbyshire EON Gold
Plantforce London School of Economics Gold
Plantforce NBC Universal Gold
Indoor Garden Design Bain and Company Gold
Urban Planters Derbyshire Valliant Interior Planting Silver
Flora-Tec Ltd Redgate, Cambridge Bronze
Design & Installation
£10 – 20K
Urban Planters Franchise Ltd Hotel Indigo, Birmingham Gold
Indoor Garden Design Noel-Blake Gold
Plantforce Dunhumby Silver
Design & Installation
Over £20K
Urban Planters London SW/Franchise Cobham Motorway Service Area Gold
MITIE The Cooperative Head Office, Manchester Gold
Urban Planters London West Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer (City) Gold
Urban Planters London East Westfield, Stratford City Gold
Ambius Edinburgh University Student Association Gold
Indoor Garden Design Wintergarden Food Court, Bluewater Shopping Centre Gold
Indoor Garden Design Deloitte: Our Green Journey Gold
Maintenance Less £10K
Urban Planters Reading & Southampton Kallo Foods, Camberley Gold
Indoor Garden Design Vision Capital Gold
Green Team Interiors Symrise Ltd, Marlow Gold
Maintenance £10 – 20K
Indoor Garden Design ITV, Television Centre Gold
Maintenance over £20K
Urban Planters Oxon The Centre, Milton Keynes Gold & Judges Commendation
Indoor Garden Design News International Gold
MITIE Westfield Shopping Centre, Merry Hill Gold
Technician Awards
Plantforce Gunita Zilpausa
Indoor Garden Design Dagmara
Special Events
Urban Planters Derbyshire Charlie & The Chocolate Factory Gold
Indoor Garden Design White Tie & Tiara Ball, Elton John’s AIDs Foundation Gold
Indoor Garden Design Medal Dinner, London Design Festival Gold
Indoor Garden Design Britain Creates Gala Dinner Gold
Indoor Garden Design Harrods Gold
Indoor Garden Design Hailo Cabs Gold
Christmas
Urban Planters Nottingham Capital One, Nottingham Gold
Indoor Garden Design ThomsonReuteres Gold
Indoor Garden Design Broadgate Gold
Plantforce Princes Arcade, St James, London Gold
Flora-Tec Ltd Millennium Point, Birmingham Silver
Flora-Tec Ltd JLL Bronze