National Plastics Launches Major Community Refurbishment Competition in Ilkeston
The Ilkeston branch of National Plastics on Falcon Court has officially launched The Big Build Competition, presenting an exceptional opportunity for one local organisation to completely transform a community space with a fully managed refurbishment valued at up to £10,000.
Eligibility and Project Scope
This exciting competition is open to schools, registered charities, and community groups operating within a 10-mile radius of the Ilkeston branch. Organisations are encouraged to nominate spaces that would significantly benefit from improvement, ranging from youth clubs and recreational areas to community gardens, seating arrangements, or sports facilities.
The winning project will receive all necessary materials supplied by National Plastics, with the company taking full responsibility for managing the refurbishment process from initial planning through to completion. Depending on the project's scale, the transformation is expected to be finished within approximately six weeks.
Focus on Practical Improvements
Refurbishments will concentrate on practical enhancements using National Plastics' specialized products, including:
- Guttering systems
- Fascias and soffits
- Decking materials
- Fencing solutions
- Cladding options
- Internal wall panels
Potential projects could involve upgrading outdoor seating areas, revitalizing community gardens, enhancing recreational spaces, improving interior walls, or upgrading exterior finishes to create more durable and attractive community facilities.
Community Impact and Vision
Sanjit Dosanjh, commercial director at National Plastics, emphasized the competition's purpose: "Across Ilkeston there are fantastic organisations doing important work for their communities, often in spaces that could really benefit from some investment. The Big Build Competition is our chance to change that for one of them."
Suggested project ideas include creating wellbeing or breakfast club spaces in schools, improving sports and recreational areas, enhancing youth clubs and community halls, upgrading food bank facilities, improving toilet accessibility, developing community gardens, or implementing essential accessibility upgrades in public buildings.
Competition Timeline and Application Process
The competition officially opens on March 16, 2026, with entries accepted until April 13, 2026. A dedicated judging panel will carefully review all submissions, with the winning project announcement scheduled for the week commencing April 27, 2026.
Applications should include:
- A brief overview of the proposed project
- The expected community impact and benefits
- An outline of the proposed works and improvements
The Big Build Competition is also running simultaneously at National Plastics branches in Chester and Scunthorpe, with one winner selected at each location, demonstrating the company's commitment to community enhancement across multiple regions.
