If there is an award for collecting awards, then surely the specialist construction company, Alumet, is well in the running. The office walls at the Warwickshire firm's headquarters are already groaning under the weight of certificates and trophy shelves, but this week broke all records when the news trickled in that the Alumet group of companies has been shortlisted for no less than 19 different awards to be made in the near future.
CEO of Alumet, Gary Summers (who won the title of Midlands Entrepreneur of the Year in February), is finding it difficult to fit all the award ceremonies into his calendar, but the man who is known by his trademark green jacket is determined to make as many of the dates as possible.
The most important accolade Mr Summers is hoping to bring home is the Renewables Award for Commercial Project of the Year. The renewable energy arm of Alumet, EOS Energy, has been shortlisted for this coveted award for completing the 1.15mw solar park at Hendra Holiday Park near Newquay in Cornwall. EOS worked around the clock installing 5,000 solar panels in this, one of the country's largest solar parks, to beat the Feed-in-Tariff cut-off date for connecting to the national grid.
Other renewable energy awards which EOS/Alumet has been shortlisted for are Solar Power Provider of the Year, Commercial Installer of the Year, Solar Power Installer of the Year and an Energy Award for Excellence in Carbon Reduction.
Proud of its green credentials, the Alumet group is also up for recognition for its Green Corporate Initiative in the Environmental Excellence Awards, and an Environment citation in the Birmingham Post Awards. These should look pretty good alongside the Green Apple Silver Award for Environmental Best Practice that Alumet won earlier this year.
Alumet already holds the title of Company of the Year, conferred by the Confederation of Construction Specialists, but now they have been shortlisted for additional worthy construction titles - six categories of the Builder & Engineer Awards 2011. These include Project Manager of the Year, Sub-Contractor of the Year, Product/Innovation, Supplier of the Year, Health & Safety, and Corporate Social Responsibility.
Alumet also stands out from the crowd in its commitment to family values. It's a true family affair, with Mr Summers' children and various members of his extended family are all employed in the group's businesses. Fittingly Alumet is in the running for this year's title of Family Business of the Year and three sub-categories of the award.
Gary Summers' son, Lee - who heads up EOS Energy - has been shortlisted to become the person who has made the most outstanding contribution to a Family Business. Lee is also in line to be honoured as the Birmingham Post's Emerging Professional of the Year, and is favoured to become top Environmental Individual in the Summit Skills Awards.