The Lord Mayor of the City of London presented Master, Journeyman and Apprentice Certificates to a total of 22 recipients at the Plaisterers' Hall last month, including Mark Hemingway from West Yorkshire.

Mark Hemingway, 42 from Mirfield, West Yorkshire, was among three to be awarded the Master Plumber Certificate by Lord Mayor Alderman David Wootton.

Hemingway, who manages his own business, MJH Plumbing Heating & Gas Services, said he was pleased to be an example of setting out good standards within the industry.

“It was an honour to be there and I’m sure it’s going to help me in the future,” he said.

Synonymous with excellent workmanship, the certificate recognises the training and experience of professionals who have been working in the industry for more than 10 years.

Since its introduction in 2001, just 165 people have been awarded the title of Master Plumber and it is considered a great personal achievement.

Wootton praised the Guilds who support the scheme and expressed his congratulations to the winners saying: “I hope that you, in turn, will support the next generation of apprentices."

The certificate is awarded and signed by three of the industry's biggest bodies, the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering, the Worshipful Company of Plumbers and the City & Guilds of London Institute.

Geoff Marsh MBE, who has been involved with the awards scheme since its inception, said that recognising excellence in our chosen vocations is a very practical way of maintaining and raising standards.