JAMstudio named Socially Responsible Company
of the Year at Prestigious Northern Star Business Awards Ceremony
North-east architectural design business, JAMstudio, has received the Socially Responsible Company of the Year Award at the Northern Star Business Awards, the flagship event of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce.
Fetternear-based JAMstudio, owned by husband and wife John Wingate and Marie-Louise Dunk, was given the honour in recognition of its work in support of the community, in particular its leading role in the refurbishment of community facilities at Peterhead Harvest Community Church.
The glittering awards ceremony took place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and was hosted by presenter, writer and adventurer Ben Fogle.
Director Marie-Louise said: “We genuinely did not expect to win due to the high calibre of fellow nominees in our category. We were absolutely blown away, utterly thrilled. “It’s a tremendous honour for the JAMstudio team, our dedicated contractors and our clients, who put their trust in us to deliver innovative and creative projects. “It was an amazing night and we’ve appreciated the emails and calls of congratulations.”
The Harvest Community project was a key part of JAMstudio’s entry for the awards. The company, based six miles from Inverurie, took control of the design and construction of the centre which now includes a state-of-the art community kitchen area with new appliances, coffee bar, main hall space – with new fittings, flooring and eye-catching décor – meeting rooms, uprgraded toilets, office, utility room, new lighting, sprinkler and security systems
JAMstudio worked in partnership with Aberdeen-based quantity surveyors Beedie Mitchell and Harlaw Building Contractors, of Peterhead, to ensure the project was delivered on time and on budget. Director John Wingate, who has been married to Marie-Louise for almost 10 years, said: “The Harvest hall was a dark space with tired décor. As well as giving our time to the project we also had tremendous support from several members of the congregation including Pastor Ben Pitout and Mrs Margaret Baird.
“The award gives everyone at JAMstudio a tremendous lift. We’re honoured to be named Socially Responsible Company of the Year and would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce for a night that will always be special to us. Being socially responsible is something that is close to our hearts and very much part of the company’s ethos. JAMstudio is proud to remain relatively small scale, giving clients the assurance that their projects will be led by a director at every stage.”
John and Marie-Louise, who between them have more than 35 years’ architectural design experience, established JAMstudio in 2003 at The Steading at Moss-side after moving from London.
Their vast experience, which has seen them work at some of the capital’s top practices, has included projects of all sizes, from house renovations and extensions to multi-storey office blocks for internationally-recognised companies throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
The practice not only offers residential architectural design services, but also complete workplace design and independent space planning advice, including all types of commercial interiors. In the last six years, it has designed and delivered more than £40 million worth of projects, gaining a large proportion of repeat and referral business in the process.
JAMstudio has grown its business steadily and, despite the economic climate, has more than 20 live projects, ranging from experimental office design to steading conversions, listed-building renovations and residential developments. The company has a total of five staff and is actively looking to take a new sixth technical member of staff in the very near future.