Proving that quality workmanship is synonymous with Renishaw Hills’, two of the South Coast development’s contractors were awarded first prize in the Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal Excellence in Construction Awards which took place at Mount Edgecombe Conference Centre on Friday, 27 October. Inyoni Homes and R&M Construction, specialists in the creation of new homes, won the 2017 Apartment/Town House Buildings (above R15m) Awards category for the construction of two show houses at Renishaw Hills, a mature lifestyle development based near Scottburgh on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. The excellence awards competition was launched in 2004 by Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal, the first of its kind for a South African Building Association. There are 27 categories which serve to recognise its KwaZulu-Natal members for exceptional work. Ross Stembridge, Building Services Manager at MBA and one of the adjudicators of the awards said there are a range of criteria that entrants must meet for consideration including external and internal finishes, green initiatives and contractor relationships, among others. However, the overriding criteria for any winner is the quality of workmanship on each project. “These awards were started to recognise quality and also to encourage members that the foremost attribute in the skills of a construction company is quality,” explained Stembridge. “This means that clients receive a better product at the end of the day.” For the Apartment/Town House Buildings (above R15m) Awards category, each project can score a total of 1600. The two Renishaw Hills’ show houses – one completed by R&M Construction and the other by Inyoni Homes – were both awarded more than 90% each, putting them in first place. Both Inyoni Homes and R&M Construction are working on the 28 standalone units of Phase 1 within Renishaw Hills. R&M Plant Hire, which forms part of the R&M Group, is taking on the bulk earthworks contract for Phase 1 and Phase 2. This award adds to the list of awards already received by the two contractors over the years. At the 2017 awards, R&M Construction also received ‘highly commended’ in the ‘Single Residential Buildings (under 3m)’ while Inyoni Homes received first place and ‘highly recommended’ in the ‘Single Residential Buildings (3m to 8m)’ category. “It felt really great to win this award and receive acknowledgement for the work we have done,” said Nic Moussouris, owner of Inyoni Homes. “Renishaw Hills is really taking no shortcuts in construction and the entire team working there, from management to sub-contractors, all take a huge amount of pride in our work.” Richard Irwin, owner of R&M Construction, agreed, saying it was an honour to receive the award which highlighted their dedication to every project. Commenting on the 2017 award, Richard Crocker, Renishaw Hills Project Director, said: “Firstly, we are extremely proud of their achievement. They deserve it, with the high-quality finishes and exceptional teamwork, which shows in the final products handed over.” He said it shows that the developers insist on top quality finishes and will settle for nothing less, a concept the builders have bought into. “We have agreed on stringent quality control measures, which we will not compromise on,” continued Crocker. “The fact that the South Coast is perceived as having cheaper and sub-standard building is clearly a fallacy. We have insisted on very high-quality finishes, best building practices, no short cuts and as, a team, we can deliver the same, if not better, building quality than other areas of KwaZulu-Natal. The team effort is clearly working as it shows our building is superior to the bulk of contractors in the market, the proof being reflected in the awards our approved builders have achieved.”