Lismore continues to shine when it comes to winning awards and putting our city on the map in a global and state sense.

The Lismore App recently published the incredible feat of Adrenaline Cheer Elite who finished Top 3 in their first international competition in Hawaii (Lismore cheerleaders win third place in global competition). Now it is the turn of local building company Joel Jensen Constructions (JJC) which has just won four MBA (Master Builders Association) Northern Region Building Awards plus Apprentice of the Year.

The awards were held in Ballina at the RSL on Saturday night with JJC beating off some big-name building companies from Coffs Harbour to the Gold Coast and everywhere in between.

"It's a pretty nice feeling because you're up against some really good trades," Joel told the Lismore App.

"We're pretty lucky in this area, there's a lot of really good tradesmen and builders, so it's is pretty special if you get an award amongst it."

The judging for each award is based on points accumulated through a number of criteria like design, the cost of the build so value for money, the quality of the build and the customer service side of the build where the judges will talk to the client about the builder. Each category is also split into price categories.

The Northern Region Building Awards were:

• Winner Best Custom Built Home $1.1-$1.5 Mil
• Winner Best Kitchen Project $40-$50K
• Winner Best Bathroom Project $40-$50K
• Winner Best Commercial Project under $100K
• Winner Apprentice of the Year - Kris Neale

(Two pictures of the award-winning Fernleigh house)

"We built a custom home in Fernleigh and the barbershop we did at the Square, Top Notch. We were pretty chuffed to win that one just because of the story behind it and the work that went into it after the flood to get Matty up and running again."

"So, Matty was my barber before the flood when he was downtown in Magellan Street, near the pie cart.

"After the flood, he started cutting hair out of a nursing home in behind the Hilltop. He was cutting my hair one day and started talking about what he was going to do and he said he was thinking about maybe going up to the Square. He didn't know if he could do downtown again, this would be something different. I said, yeah, bloody oath mate, let's do it. I'll build it for you, let's make it happen."

"We just kept brainstorming and then he had some ideas and then we got a designer on board that I'd been working with on the Fernleigh house. Emily brought her ideas and me and Matty went into the shop at the Square and started spitballing ideas and the sort of vibe he wanted to go for and then we were into it."

(Two photos of the award-winning Top Notch business in the Lismore Square)

"It was really good because he jumped in and was working and helping us out. It was really fun and it was obviously a pretty full-on time for everyone. In amongst all the shitshow of the flood, it was like a bit of a distraction."

Kris Neale won Apprentice of the Year working for JJC. Kris was judged on his skill level, what sort of person he is and his work ethic plus he had an interview process to win the award.

Joel said Kris has been with him for six years now.

"He laboured for us for two years and then did a mature age apprenticeship, so he's not far off finishing. He's in his fourth year now."

"In his TAFE work, he was getting distinctions constantly. His teachers kept ringing saying he's killing it. They said back then he'd go a long way to getting the Apprentice of the Year, if we could have 100 Kris' we would have them. So, he's killing it at work and he's just one of the nicest blokes you'll ever meet."

(Apprentice of the Year Kris Neale)

Winning four awards as JJC doesn't win you cash prizes but that is not what it's about for Joel, Brit and the team.

"You do it for the pride I suppose, the pride and I love that it showcases how talented everyone here is, our trades, all our office staff, chippies, tradies and foremen. What we're creating in our town is pretty special."

"Britt and I are only one piece of the puzzle. We wouldn't be where we are without them and they're all pretty chuffed."

As for the rest of the year, JJC has only one gear and that is sixth with the pedal on the floor.

"We're doing a bit more semi-commercial stuff so we're rebuilding a fair bit around town at the moment, it's pretty exciting."

"The next stage of Southside Trucks, we're doing Center Church which is really exciting because it's the old theatre. We're doing a lot of stuff with Bennett's helping them out, so we're doing the baseball fields at the moment then we'll be going on to the next projects around town for them and then we're doing stuff with Resilient Lismore and where we're working on the temporary schools."

It is wonderful to see another local Lismore business getting rewards for their hard work when the city needs positivity. Congratulations JJC.