The search for ground-breaking products designed to solve problems in the construction industry in the UK has resulted in six innovation champions named to watch next year. The exciting Travis Perkins Innovation Awards (TPIA), pioneered by the Travis Perkins plc – the largest distributor of building materials in the UK – is the first of its kind for the industry. The successful winners of the first ever TPIA were selected from over 100 applicants by a panel of industry judges and announced as: Dr Daniel Simmons, Jonathan Bolton, Jonathan Wood of Johnson Tiles, Mark Singleton of Startlink Systems Ltd, Mark Titley, and Russel Armstrong of RA Tech. The winners’ products range from Johnson Tiles’ ‘CristalGrip’ an innovative tile fixing system, Russel Armstrong’s ‘Hotun’ the UK’s first regulation compatible all in one dry trap tundish, Dr Daniel Simmons’ ‘LeakNet’ a smart solution to water damage prevention, Mark Titley’s ‘Pipe Cone’ a safer and more efficient plastic pipe chamfer tool, Mark Singleton’s ‘Spacelink truss’ made of fiberglass hollow sections, joined without metal or adhesive, that’s as strong as steel but much lighter and rustproof, and Travis Perkins plc employee Jonathan Bolton’s ‘Stay Safe’ multi cordon bag, which makes cordoning off an area safe and quick without the need for traffic cones. A TPIA winner was chosen from each of the following categories: university affiliated, problem-solving, inventors, registered businesses and internal colleagues. Going forward the successful applicants will all work closely with Travis Perkins plc to access professional advice, support and funding depending on their specific needs. Group Strategy Director at Travis Perkins plc, Norman Bell, commented: “As a major UK employer with 21 businesses it is important to invest in innovative products and new ideas which help to solve daily problems that are encountered by our customers and the industry as a whole.”