Cool Designs Ltd, the specialist air conditioning supplier, has won the top accolade in the ACR News Awards 2014, being crowned Distributor of the Year.
The coveted trophy was presented to Darrel Birkett, CDL’s founder and managing director, by celebrity Lenny Henry at the gala awards finals, held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.
The judges praised CDL’s vision and commitment in becoming the first carbon neutral air conditioning supplier in the UK. They also commended the
company for combining outstanding charity and community work with commercial success.
CDL has been the recipient of the top distributor award now on a number of occasions. Darrel Birkett said: “It is obviously very pleasing to once again receive recognition by one’s peers in the industry. I am also delighted that our success is not just a flash in the pan, but reflects a winning formula that we have evolved and built into the company’s approach over a number of years.
“It is based on a lot of passion, creativity and hard work on the part of the CDL team. It also reflects the fantastic support we receive from our key manufacturers such as Toshiba.”
The distributor was also singled out for its dedication to the cause of training, in which it has invested significantly in recent years. The company, which recently celebrated 10 years as a Toshiba distributor, has capacity to train up to 400 engineers each year.
The company operates a highly successful and growing video tutorial library via You Tube, available with open-access for engineers.
Darrel added: “We believe commercial success can go hand-in-hand with environmental concern and community involvement. Indeed, I believe it is not only desirable but essential to act responsibly and do the right thing. The growth of CDL in recent years proves that this approach can create a virtuous circle.
“However, we will not be resting on our laurels. We have plans in hand to further grow the company in the future, and build on the strong foundation we have established.”
Caption: Darrel Birkett receives the award from celebrity Lenny Henry.