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IDS announces winner of its national design competition for the company's new HQ

International Decorative Surfaces hosted an awards dinner at the Potter's Club in Stoke last Thursday where it announced the three winners of a national competition for students to design aspects of its new company headquarters centred around IDS's core values of innovation, creativity and sustainability.

The competition was launched in partnership with Staffordshire University and the National Design Academy and more than 50 entries were received. The winner was Martyn Webb, a BA Hons Architecture graduate from the University of Portsmouth; second came Blaze Perrigo, studying BA Hons Interior Design at University College Falmouth and third place went to Becky Spenceley, studying BA Hons Interior Design at Northumbria University.

The winner received £1000 in prize money plus a hosted visit to 100% Design in London in 2013, together with mentoring opportunities with the company's many surface material suppliers. The runners up each received £500.

IDS is believed to be the UK's largest distributor of decorative surface materials including laminates, worktops, flooring, solid surfacing and panel products. The company's head office is based currently at Newcastle under Lyme and IDS has plans to relocate to new purpose built premises at the Parkhouse Interchange in early 2014. The premises will house a 61,000 sq ft warehouse, a 2,500 sq ft showroom, a 50 seat lecture theatre as well as office accommodation. The modern, eco-friendly building will have the lowest possible carbon footprint, utilising modern materials and building methods including rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling and solar panelling.

IDS employs 75 people at Stoke, out of 420 nationally.

Says John Bagshaw, managing director of IDS: "I am delighted with the calibre of entries that we received showcasing some very well thought-out and creative ideas incorporating our decorative surfaces.

"This is the first of many planned collaborations with Staffordshire University and local colleges to foster educational links and improve students' knowledge and business skills."

Judging of the entries was carried out by: John Bagshaw; Patricia Hancock, marketing consultant to IDS; Tristram Hunt, Labour MP for Stoke on Trent and Anthony Rayworth, Director of Studies at the National Design Academy based in Nottingham. Rowena Beighton-Dykes, Partnership Manager at Staffordshire University who facilitated the competition, also attended the judging as an observer.

T: 08457 298 298
E: [email protected]
W: www.idsurfaces.co.uk

26th October 2012