HOME improvement specialist Shane Howells has been voted the best in the west for the fifth year running in a customer satisfaction survey of more than 15,000 homeowners nationwide.

Ledbury-based Mr Howells gained the highest score in Western England in the survey by Network VEKA, the standards and guarantees body for home improvement companies across the UK. He received the trophy from snooker legend and celebrity Steve Davis at a gala awards event in Nottingham.

“This award really means something to us,” said Mr Howells. “We always knew we could live up to the standards expected by Network VEKA but now with this trophy, we have another way of proving it to our customers. It’s also important to us that it’s the opinions of actual homeowners, especially five years in a row, so we know they must be genuinely happy with our work.”

The annual survey is based on questionnaire responses from every customer of every one of Network VEKA’s member companies after the installation of windows, doors, conservatories or similar home improvements. The organisation was established in 1996 to help quality local window, door and conservatory companies to stand above the chequered reputation of the industry.