TTA awards 2010, a fore gone conclusion

[Cerbera450]

Without predjudice.

We went to the tiling awards yesterday at the N.E.C Hilton Metropole Hotel Birmingham. The event seems to be getting smaller year on year, so much so that it wont be long before they hire a village hall and the only people that turn up are the sponsers and Wilson and Wylie aka The Bob Howard show.

Yet again i feel there is a conflict of interest. Commitee members should not be able to nominate anyone certainly their own employees. This has happened again this year and myself and others are getting sick of it. If your going to have competitions they should be totally transparent. Wilson and Wylie's MD is on the commitee and is an ex chairman of the TTA. Year on year he enters his own employees and puts in projects for different catergorys. Now this i feel has to stop.

Last night one of Bob Howards guys won Tiler of the year. Now i beat this guy last year. They showed none of his work, if fact they used the same photo of him they used last year. He didn't even turn up to pick the award up, Bob Howard went to pick it up. It all seemed to be a fore gone conclusion.

Theres also another problem. Year on year the TTA extend the date when projects have to be in for judging. This year the work had to be in on Dec 31st. This date was extended twice so they could get more nominations. This is fundementally wrong especially when the majority of us complie with the rules.

Now for independants like myself these events are expensive. By the time you have bought your tickets etc, sorted out portfolios, travelling your looking at between £600-00 to £800-00. So when these awards get discussed and awarded on the golf course it all seems to be a bit rich.

So if any of you want to put work up for Tiler of the year next year look at the nominations first and then decide if its worth the bother. Theres no way i'm doing it again.

As a quick note well done to Kemtile who walked away with a couple of awards, justice!.



P.S I have also just received another e-mail from one of the guys who was there last night who was so disgusted by the goings on that he will not be renewing his membership.

[whitebeam]

Do you think that the TTA are losing the idea what there there for

[Dave]

Thanks for the feedback jon..

I agree it is a shame and not cheap either hey!!..

Joining the TTA isn't something i have interest in an the moment... not enough being done for the independent tile fixer.

[Cerbera450]

Do you think that the TTA are losing the idea what there there for

Totally whitebeam it really does seems to be a gentlemans club.

I'm in conflict with them as well at the moment over a job. A local tile contractor did an appalling job installing a limstone floor in a house in Exeter. Now because the contractor is in the TTA they came along and wrote a report on the job. They charged £1000-00 for this and as far as i am concerned when you read the report and look at the floor they seemed like two different jobs. Its almost as if the want to back the tiling contractor because he is a memeber of the TTA.

I was called in by Manderin stone to look at the job and also by the home owners. My report is no holds barred which obviously conflicts with the TTA!!.

[Cerbera450]

Thanks for the feedback jon..

I agree it is a shame and not cheap either hey!!..

Joining the TTA isn't something i have interest in an the moment... not enough being done for the independent tile fixer.

Amen!!!

[kilty55]

i dont know much about them really cerbera but from what youve just told me they sound like a bunch of corrupt politicians

[whitebeam]

I scratch your back if you scratch mine

[Cerbera450]

i dont know much about them really cerbera but from what youve just told me they sound like a bunch of corrupt politicians

I guess i'm a bit annoyed about it all really. There are loads of really good guys out there who do some fantastic jobs, they are the ones who should pick up awards not companies who have a vested interests.

[Dave]

No language plz..

[faithhealer]

with you jamie, they seem to have lost the plot

[Cerbera450]

I scratch your back if you scratch mine

Spot on Whitebeam!. Troube is the majority of people wants to see things fair and square.

It wouldn't have mattered what you had entered this year the powers that be have it sewn up!.

[timeless john]

Totally whitebeam it really does seems to be a gentlemans club.

I'm in conflict with them as well at the moment over a job. A local tile contractor did an appalling job installing a limstone floor in a house in Exeter. Now because the contractor is in the TTA they came along and wrote a report on the job. They charged £1000-00 for this and as far as i am concerned when you read the report and look at the floor they seemed like two different jobs. Its almost as if the want to back the tiling contractor because he is a memeber of the TTA.

I was called in by Manderin stone to look at the job and also by the home owners. My report is no holds barred which obviously conflicts with the TTA!!.

From this part of your thread I would suggest that you may also have a conflict of interests with the TTA at not winning an award!
I certainly couldn't agree that the TTA should be giving a report (and charging for it) on one of their own members and if you had an ongoing issue with them you could have saved yourself some money and not entered.
Why don't you post some photos of the job you entered - I for one will find it interesting as I've never had any connection to the TTA but there are some members on here I believe have had links.

[Cerbera450]

From this part of your thread I would suggest that you may also have a conflict of interests with the TTA at not winning an award!
I certainly couldn't agree that the TTA should be giving a report (and charging for it) on one of their own members and if you had an ongoing issue with them you could have saved yourself some money and not entered.
Why don't you post some photos of the job you entered - I for one will find it interesting as I've never had any connection to the TTA but there are some members on here I believe have had links.

I have a conflict of interest???...For myself and the other independants that entered it a bit rich when a company has someone on the board or did you miss that bit?.

My issue with the TTA ( I am also a member ) is that they have written a report which i feel is wrong.I have put forward my own version which details all the problems from fitting to surface finish. Their version seems to look after the contractor involved.

If you want to look at pics go to www.jd-tiling.co.uk , look at the gallerys, testimonials etc

[hillhead]

So the awards are stitched up by the looks !!!
Phil where are ya?

[timeless john]

[QUOTE=Cerbera450;340627]I have a conflict of interest???...For myself and the other independants that entered it a bit rich when a company has someone on the board or did you miss that bit?.

I have edited your quote to include the section I am replying to.

If you are in dispute with someone and then try to highlight their failings then i would suggest you are in conflict with them - as you yourself put forward.
I do try to read and fully understand a thread when I attempt to reply so I didn't miss the TTA's conflict of interest and that is why I used the adverb 'also' to explain the impression I have got from your post!

[Phil Hobson]

Hi Jon, it's late and I'm ready for bed. Bob Howard is a good friend of mine, has been for many years. I hear what you are saying, and as Dave will recall. I have tried to address this issue at TTA meetings. Maybe we can continue, this in the cold light of day believe me I am not totally against your views. Look forward to more chat tomorrow

[Phil Hobson]

Can I just add, I don't sit on the fixer training committee for brownie points. I don't and never will (talk a good job) my work is there to be judged by all. I give my time to the TTA free of charge, because I am passionate about this industry.


I only want to encourage new people to enter this trade, If trained properly. They are the future for our noble craft. I know a lot of members feel the same,(I hope) Ego's should not play a part imho.

[timeless john]

Thought you were going to bed!

As for views - I didn't think I'd expressed any.
Never had any reason to be in contact with the TTA before or in the future.

[mikethetile]

having read this thread I feel tj has made a valid point

over the years you see these things time and time again, theres no point getting older if your not going to get wiser

the tta operate to protect their members first and foremost

I havent seen the job the report was made on so cant comment but the report from the tta will be to bs which only covers methods not standard of finish

anyone who puts in a contradictory report to them is opposed to their member and therfore you have a conflict of interest

its against their interest to award that person tiler of the year

[peckers]

sorry to here you diddnt win jon, there isnt enough room on your van to add anymore awards on it any hows
As i have said before I personally have no interest in entering such things! We as tilers know what we are capable off and our customers will know if they have recieved a good job from start to finish and imo it is the reputation we recieve from our customers that let us know that we are winners in each and every installation that we do! Now hurry up and get back to the mosque with me as this is a delightful job

[garythetiler]

I have worked with some of the guys from wilsons and Jeff sharp who won it the year before you Jon is an excellent fixer as is Peter breathwick as is Wally and his son Robbie ,they have probably have a dozen tilers who given the right job could easily win tiler of the year award thats why they have the name they have got ,good on you for entering Jon but be happy for the winner as i am sure it was well desrved

[Cerbera450]

I have worked with some of the guys from wilsons and Jeff sharp who won it the year before you Jon is an excellent fixer as is Peter breathwick as is Wally and his son Robbie ,they have probably have a dozen tilers who given the right job could easily win tiler of the year award thats why they have the name they have got ,good on you for entering Jon but be happy for the winner as i am sure it was well desrved

Im sure they are good. My point is Bob Howard has a vested interest in this and i'm not the only one to point this out to the TTA. Remember as well that Bob writes the testimonials for his guys as well.

Its a shame as well that the TTA hasn't put any of the winners work up on their site, crap as well that they used the same picture from the year before when the names were being read out.

[Cerbera450]

sorry to here you diddnt win jon, there isnt enough room on your van to add anymore awards on it any hows
As i have said before I personally have no interest in entering such things! We as tilers know what we are capable off and our customers will know if they have recieved a good job from start to finish and imo it is the reputation we recieve from our customers that let us know that we are winners in each and every installation that we do! Now hurry up and get back to the mosque with me as this is a delightful job

Why do you think i have left you there on your own????, some ones got to go out and get some money to pay your wages!!!!

[garythetiler]

Im sure they are good. My point is Bob Howard has a vested interest in this and i'm not the only one to point this out to the TTA. Remember as well that Bob writes the testimonials for his guys as well.

Its a shame as well that the TTA hasn't put any of the winners work up on their site, crap as well that they used the same picture from the year before when the names were being read out.

is the competiton rigged every year or just the years when wilsons win it ?

[timeless john]

It was okay last year!

[TF Ed]

hi cerbera
sometimes you have to have a little bit of dignity and respect in these situations.
what if people questioned your win?? sometimes in life you dont always get what you deserve and sometimes the best dont actually win but you have to have respect
it shows some class

i wouldnt be concerning myself who the tta think is the best tiler, i would be setting my own standards and concentrating on what my customers thought because they are the people that matter most...anything after that is a bonus imo

i cant comment on the tta because i am not a member, but one of the top guys on here is, and i cant for one minute think he'd be part of an organisation that lacked integrity in choosing its winners...it would go against his grain

why not get involved on here more?. you obviously have alot to offer and i am sure all our members would value your input and advice...

all the best and better look in next years tta tiler of the year awards
ed

[Cerbera450]

hi cerbera
sometimes you have to have a little bit of dignity and respect in these situations.
what if people questioned your win?? sometimes in life you dont always get what you deserve and sometimes the best dont actually win but you have to have respect
it shows some class

i wouldnt be concerning myself who the tta think is the best tiler, i would be setting my own standards and concentrating on what my customers thought because they are the people that matter most...anything after that is a bonus imo

i cant comment on the tta because i am not a member, but one of the top guys on here is, and i cant for one minute think he'd be part of an organisation that lacked integrity in choosing its winners...it would go against his grain

why not get involved on here more?. you obviously have alot to offer and i am sure all our members would value your input and advice...

all the best and better look in next years tta tiler of the year awards
ed

I enter things fair and square with the intention that maybe every one is on an even keel. If you and others feel that there is no vested interest that someone who is an ex chairman/commitee member is putting his own guys into competitions where he has a vested interets then i guess i'm being sinicle. The TTA seems to be an organisation that awards itself awards, look at the life time acheivement awards over the past couple of years,who have they gone to???????.

Next year go to the awards and sit back and listen to the chairmans speech. If it was like this years you would think that there is now nothing wrong with the tile industry and its all because of the TTA...Fantastic!.

A quick question: If the TTA has so much integrity why are there so few independant fixers in it??, i think John White and myself are the only two from Exeter. Why as well was the event held in a smaller venue, two reasons,falling numbers,lack of interest in the awards.

By the way Mapei and BCT were sponsers of the event, they went away picking up awards as well....Any comments on that???...conflict of interest??.

[TF Ed]

my answer to that cerbera is...if you dont like it, dont be part of it

what else can i add???

[diamondtiling]

Conflict of interest? If thats a comment because mapei are a forum sponsor then its a bit low mate, thats an aggressive statement because you are not getting loads of tilers agreeing with you. I could not care less about the tiler of the year awards, I know plenty of top notch fixers that dont need to enter competitions for kudos.
This is causing you too much grief, let it go, get a beer and chill out.

[Dave]

A quick question: If the TTA has so much integrity why are there so few independant fixers in it??,

Because they do nothing for the independent fixers.. if you are retail then yes the TTA could be for you but as a fixer then IMHO they have nothing to offer to the tile fixer as of yet.

As for the awards... a pure waste of members money.... try putting that profit into giving something back to the members and not just an awards ceremony and golf days etc..