The Javan Coker Foundation
Flooring a Brighter Future at The Javan Coker Foundation
In early July, Loughton Contracts partnered with Mace, Altro and Mapei to deliver a full flooring transformation at The Javan Coker Foundation centre in Abbey Wood, East London – reinforcing our commitment to meaningful community engagement and long-term social value.
The Javan Coker Foundation is a London-based charity dedicated to supporting children and young people with disabilities and complex needs. Through education, therapy, and tailored community programmes, the Foundation provides a safe and nurturing environment where every child is empowered to reach their full potential.
Project Overview
The initiative began after Mace completed three days of volunteering at the centre. During this time, they repainted the sensory room, refreshed two offices and tidied the garden – all of which brought immediate benefits to the space.
Our Operations Director, Ross Cooper, paid a visit. What began as a single‑area reflooring request for the entrance corridor quickly evolved into a larger endeavour. Inspired by co‑founder Esther Sesay and her dedicated team, we extended our work to include the main hall.
Scope of Work
Loughton Contracts undertook:
- Uplift and removal of existing flooring
- Full preparation and installation of new vinyl sheeting in both the entrance and main hall
- Project management and quality control throughout
Impact & Outcomes
The newly refurbished entrance and main hall offer a bright, clean and welcoming environment where children, families and staff feel safe and uplifted. This small yet meaningful upgrade aligns with the Foundation’s exceptional work in supporting young people with complex needs.
“We are deeply grateful for the care and kindness shown throughout the project – every detail reflects a genuine commitment to our children’s wellbeing. The team was not only professional but truly compassionate…”
— Esther Sesay, Co‑Founder, Javan Coker Foundation
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to lead and be part of such a worthy cause. This project will support young people for years to come.”
— Ross Cooper, Operations Director (Fit‑Out), Loughton Contracts
Acknowledgements
We extend heartfelt thanks to Mace, Altro, and Mapei for their invaluable support. Most importantly, thank you to Esther Sesay and the Javan Coker Foundation for inviting us to contribute to your life-changing mission.
Want to know more about what Loughton Contracts is up to across the industry? Keep an eye on our News page and follow us on social media for the latest updates from our team – Including any upcoming charitable initiatives and community partnerships.
Mix Awards 2025
Celebrating Industry Excellence: The 2025 Mix Awards Finalists
Loughton Contracts is proud to celebrate the incredible achievements of our industry peers and supply chain partners who have been shortlisted for the 2025 Mix Awards – A leading event recognising outstanding contributions to commercial interiors, architecture, and design.
As a business rooted in quality delivery and collaboration, it’s fantastic to see many of our trusted clients, manufacturers, and collaborators recognised for their innovations and project excellence.
Manufacturer of the Year – Nominees
The Mix Awards 2025 Manufacturer of the Year category features several key manufacturers we regularly work with. These suppliers play a pivotal role in helping us deliver exceptional flooring solutions across commercial sectors:
- Amtico
- Balsan UK
- Bolon
- Ege Carpets
- Egger UK
Each one consistently demonstrates excellence in material performance, aesthetic, functional design, specification and technical support.
Product of The Year Award – Standout Innovations
This year’s Mix Awards shortlist for Product of the Year includes a host of exciting ranges that reflect the industry’s shift toward sustainability, technical performance, and design adaptability:
- Amtico – Form
- Balsan – Nexus
- Bolon – Elements
- Ege Carpets – ReForm Memory
- Egger – AquaDura (+)
- Forbo Flooring Systems – Tessera Topology
- Interface – Etched & Threaded
- Karndean Commercial – Art Select
- Milliken – Pattern Play
- modulyss – Plus Collection
- Mohawk Group – Relaxing Floors
- Parador – Trendtime 5 and 10 Vinyl
- Shaw Contract – Art + Science
- Tarkett – iD Square
These products represent the best in sustainable materials, design adaptability, and technical performance. All of which are vital qualities in today’s commercial flooring sector.
Project of the Year Award – Spatial Excellence
We’re proud to share that, just as we did in the 2024 Mix Awards, Loughton Contracts helped deliver the flooring finishes on some of the shortlisted projects in the 2025 Mix Awards Project of the Year category across Design & Build, Inside Out, and Workplace. Each scheme reflects our commitment to quality, precision, and partnership on some of the UK’s most complex commercial interiors.
- GSK Project Emerald – Overbury
- Deutsche Bank, 21 Moorfields – Mace
- Santander, Triton Square – Osbourne & Co
- Blockspace – Thirdway
- One Hooper’s Court – BW
- Norton Folgate – Thirdway
- Heals Building – Thirdway
- Zoom – Unispace
- Norton Folgate – Thirdway
- SilverDoor – TSK
- Pentland Brands – Maris
It’s fantastic to see projects being recognised not just for their scale, but also their attention to detail, finish quality, and environmental strategy.
Like last year, members of our team will be attending the Mix Awards. We’d like to wish the very best to our supply chain partners and look forward to celebrating with this year’s winners!
Karta: Recycled Leather Flooring Unveiled at Clerkenwell
UK Manufacturer Karta Flooring Launches Recycled Leather Range
Karta, owned by luxury wood flooring specialists Ted Todd have unveiled a new sustainable flooring range at Clerkenwell Design Week 2025. Members of our Canary Wharf Division, Craig Anstey (Divisional Managing Director) and Adam Skinner (Sales Director) met with Maxine Mann who showcased the collection. She shared the inspiration behind the new series and its role in shaping a more environmentally conscious future for commercial interiors.
A Smarter Alternative to LVT
Choosing the Karta Recycled Leather Series helps eliminate the need for single-use plastics and environmentally harmful luxury vinyl tiles (LVT’s). Unlike PVC-based flooring, Karta avoids the harmful chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) typically associated with vinyl, resulting in better indoor air quality and safer spaces for occupants.
Maxine explained “By supporting the use of sustainable materials such as cork, wood fibre, and recycled leather, Karta contributes to environmental conservation and promotes a greener, more responsible approach to commercial interiors. It offers the look and feel of natural wood without the carbon footprint of traditional timber products.”
Key features:
- Sustainable Materials: Karta Flooring uses reclaimed leather offcuts from the fashion industry, alongside wood fibre layers and a natural cork backing to create a plastic-free alternative to traditional vinyl flooring. This low-impact composition supports circular economy principles and reflects Karta’s commitment to sustainability in design.
- Easy Installation: Thanks to its click-lock system, Karta Flooring can be installed quickly and efficiently without adhesives or underlays. This not only reduces installation time and waste, but also simplifies future removal or reconfiguration, making it perfect for commercial environments.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Each Karta plank is digitally printed using high-resolution scans of real reclaimed wood. This creates a stunningly realistic timber look with no repeating patterns across at least 20 boards. Available in 18 distinctive tones, the range combines the look of natural wood with contemporary design versatility.
- Durable: Karta’s AC5-rated wear layer (Karta Plated®) delivers great performance in high-traffic environments while maintaining its finish over time. It resists water, maintains its finish, and requires minimal maintenance – making it perfect for commercial use.
- Versatile: The technical performance, design flexibility, and sustainability credentials make it suitable for a wide range of commercial interiors. This includes offices, retail spaces, hospitality venues, and educational settings. It is the ideal solution for clients seeking both style and environmental responsibility.
Sustainability continues to shape procurement decisions across the built environment, which is why Loughton Contracts are proud to work with Karta. They offer cutting-edge, environmentally responsible solutions which we look forward to fitting on our projects in the future!
To learn more about Karta visit their website here and explore their exciting new range of finishes.
Get in touch with the Loughton Contracts team, we’ll be happy to help you find the perfect flooring solution for your project and can answer any questions you may have.
Loughtons Hattrick at the CFJ Awards 2024!
On Friday 6th September, we attended the CFJ Awards 2024. The event hosted by the Contract Flooring Journal is one of the industry highlights for the year, bringing together both contactors and suppliers in the flooring industry.
The event was attend by several of the Loughton Contracts team. We had seven projects shortlisted as finalists, over five categories, and we are extremely joyful to announce that we went home with 3 winners!
UCL Marshgate – Flooring in Education (Colleges/Universities)
The first of these awards was in the ‘Flooring in Education’ category, for UCL Marshgate, on behalf of Mace.
This project consisted of a wide range of different products and finishes, as it is a building which serves a multitude of purposes depending on the topics of study.
The project had a multitude of different products such as herringbone timber, vinyl, carpet, latex, resin, tiling and nosings, all done by us. A memorable one for all involved!
Oak Cancer Centre (Royal Marsden Hospital) – Flooring in Healthcare
The second of our awards was in the ‘Flooring in Healthcare’ category for our project at Oak Cancer Centre on behalf of ISG.
This project consisted of a wide range of different products and finishes, as it is a building which serves a multitude of purposes.
As it is a hospital, a majority of the floor finishes were that of vinyl and rubber, which suits the hardwearing nature of foot traffic and hygienic element, being easier to clean going forward.
The hospital also had office areas, which therefore required us to install a range of different carpet tiles, which made it easier for the client to access under the floor, due to wiring under the raised access floor tiles.
We also installed a classy timber in the restaurant areas, which was the perfect blend of style and practicality!
Project Apollo – Flooring in Offices (Refurbishments)
The final one of our CFJ Awards 2024 was in the ‘Flooring in Offices – Refurbishments’ category for our project at Apollo on behalf of ISG.
The project was full of intricate detail, especially with the timber flooring, as we were required to keep the existing gaps around the timber and install a lot of floor boxes. We also installed brass trims to go around in the open areas to ensure setting out to the desks.
We installed nearly 6,000m2 of carpet tiles in plank and square style. We also installed over 600m2 of timber, which was crafted to many different patterns.
There was also over 500m2 of sheet and LVT vinyl, which added plenty of style and practicality to proceedings.
The CFJ Awards 2024 was a proud day for all involved with Loughton Contracts, which reflects the hard work which not only the project teams put into these projects, but everyone behind the scenes who made every single process possible!
Well done Team Loughton Contracts!!!
Canary Wharf Contractors Annual Dragon Boat Race!
Loughton Contracts is thrilled to announce that we took part in the Canary Wharf Contractors Annual Dragon Boat Race and have contributed to raising over £20,000 for various esteemed charities, including London Air Ambulance, Spread a Smile, Demelza, Construction Youth, Coney, St Joseph’s Hospice, and Cardboard Citizens!
On Thursday, 25th July, we teamed up for the third successive year to participate in the Canary Wharf Contractors Dragon Boat Race event. This year saw a record-breaking number of teams taking part, and we were proud to be among them. We competed in three exhilarating races and secured a respectable 15th place out of 30 participants.
The evening was filled with excitement and camaraderie, as teams paddled fiercely for their respective causes. The collective efforts of all involved resulted in a significant amount of money being raised for these incredible charities, making a meaningful impact on countless lives. The team was supported by a plethora of Loughton Contract’s staff who all attended the event to cheer on their colleagues.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our event sponsors –
Balsan Carpets, a renowned name in the flooring industry, specialises in creating high-quality, innovative carpet solutions, with a rich heritage and commitment to sustainability.
Solus Ceramics is a leading supplier of innovative and high-quality tiles, offering a vast array of porcelain, ceramic, and stone products. Renowned for their exceptional design and durability.
Gradus/Gerflor a collaboration between two industry leaders in flooring solutions. Gradus specialises in contract interior solutions, including stair edgings, floor trims, and barrier matting systems, known for their quality and durability. Gerflor, a global leader in resilient flooring.
Your support was instrumental in making this event a big success. A big thanks also to Keep Attacking for their ongoing support in supplying all our team kits for our charity events over the last 3 years.
A big thank you to everyone who participated and contributed. Here’s to many more successful events with Canary Wharf Contractors Fund in the future, as we continue to support and uplift our community.
If you would like to find out more about how we support the local community through charity events please keep checking our News feed for regular updates.
Oak Cancer Centre listed as a CFJ/CFA Finalist!
The Oak Cancer Centre, a new research and treatment facility funded by The Royal Marsden Hospital, has been shortlisted for a Contract Flooring Journal Installation of the Year Award. The project, featuring an expanse of vinyl, LVT, rubber and carpet tiles is a finalist in the “Best Flooring in Health Care” category.
This new state of the art facility featured several floors dedicated to the treatment of cancer patients. Each of these areas incorporated a sheet rubber floor finish, with contrasting colours demarking walkways through out the space. This product is not only very hygienic and easy to maintain but also has a durable quality to it, making it perfect for this environment.
As well as rubber flooring, this project also saw our teams supply and install sheet vinyl, LVT, timber and carpet tiles to other areas of the facility. Staff and administrative areas featured a softer floor finish in the form of a carpet tile, while the centre’s restaurant had an engineered timber floor installed throughout.
The CFJ Awards ceremony takes place in September this year at the Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire. This prestigious, highly anticipated awards ceremony is revered for its recognition of excellence in the flooring industry. Having been shortlisted for 7 awards this year the team are hoping to add to previous years successes.
Project Apollo listed as a CFJ/CFA Award Finalist!
We were appointed by ISG to supply and install new floor coverings for a financial advisory giant. This intricate and detailed project has been shortlisted by the Contract Flooring Journal for an installation of the year award in the “Flooring in Offices (Refurbishments)” category.
Our specialist teams installed nearly 6,000m2 of carpet tiles in plank and square format, over 600m2 of magnetic backed timber and over 500m2 of sheet vinyl and LVT.
The CFJ Awards ceremony takes place in September this year at the Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire. This prestigious, highly anticipated awards ceremony is revered for its recognition of excellence in the flooring industry. Having been shortlisted for 7 awards this year the team are hoping to add to previous years successes.
Check out our project case study for more information on this intricate and highly detailed installation by clicking on the button below.
Install of the Year Finalist – Buckinghamshire New University
Our installation of new flooring at Buckinghamshire New University, for Design & Build company Maris, as been shortlisted for a Contract Flooring Journal (CFJ) Install of the Year Award. The project is a finalist in the Flooring in Education category!
This project saw our team, supply and install, a plethora of floor coverings including over 900m2 of large format ceramic tiles, over 200m2 of carpet tiles, over 850m2 of vinyl sheet and LVT, as well as hygienic wall cladding, screed and entrance matting. The project transformed a tired derelict part of the University into a new central hub for the students.
Materials were supplied by Flowcrete, Desso Tarkett, Blueprint Ceramics and C.A.T. Accessories.
Client Comment…
“Due to the expansion goals of the University, they required the entire project to be undertaken and delivered in 12 months. This meant we had to appoint only the best and most reliable teams possible to carry out this project. It was a huge project to complete in this amount of time, and Loughton Contracts faced the challenge head on and produced a perfect installation. There were a range of challenging floor finishes, with ceramics, carpet and vinyl floor coverings fitted to complement each other. I would like to thank Loughton’s for their hard work, cooperation and commitment to the project, which was a massive success all round.” Liam Pritchard – Maris
Check out the full project case study to find out more!
Install of the Year Finalist – Oliver Wyman
Our project for Business Management Consultant, Oliver Wyman, has been shortlisted in this years Contract Flooring Journal Installation of the Year Awards 2024. The project is one of a few finalists in the Best Flooring in Offices (Refurbishments) category! Working with our client, TSK Group, our Canary Wharf Division supplied and installed new floor coverings to two new office floors.
The project featured various different floor coverings, including over 2,500m2 of carpet tiles, 645m2 of vinyl and over 750m2 of engineered Oak timber. This mix of finishes created seamless transitions between different workspaces. Flooring supplied by Bolon, 2Tec2, Balsan, Shaw Contract, Modulyss, Havwoods and C.A.T. Accessories.
Client Comment…
“We have built a very strong relationship with Loughton’s over the last few years and with projects like this, it is only going to go from strength to strength. They have built a reputation as the biggest in the industry and it is no wonder why. A perfect install by a great team!” TSK
Check out the full project case study to find out more!
A Look Back on the CFJ/CFA Awards 2023!
On Friday 8th September, it was that time of the year again where team members attended the annual CFJ/CFA Installation of the Year awards, as we looked to add to our impressive haul of winners from the last few years.
We had a record seven finalists over two categories, and we are extremely proud to announce that we had a winner in both!
The first of these awards was in the ‘Flooring in Offices’ category, for BP Project Samoa, on behalf of Overbury.
The detail was incredible, there were vast amounts of rugs cut into size, and also timber curved into various paths. The moon features of the rugs were particularly unique. We also had to ensure that the mastic installation looked like an extension to the timber and vinyl floor.
On this project, we installed 3,750m2 of timber, supplied by Havwoods. These were installed from the Mezz all the way up until level 8 in the corridors and lobbies. We installed over 10,000m2 of Interface, Tarkett and Shaw carpet tiles on all levels in areas such as the open plan, focus rooms, corridors, client suites, phone rooms, innovation space, sanctuary, south lobby and cocoons. 550m2 of Forbo vinyl was fitted to the mail rooms, security rooms, BOH areas, lobby, first aid rooms and pantry on levels 1 and 2. We applied around 190m2 worth of My Inside Guide rugs on every level to the south lobby, north lobby, north staircase, meeting rooms and sanctuary.
This project was BREEAM. All products procured for this project were low embodied carbon, low VOC, high recycled content. All products had environmental product declarations. All adhesives had EC1 certification. All timber products were full chain of custody. All from responsibly sourced businesses, with either ISO 14001 or FSC accreditations. All products met the BREEAM outstanding requirements. All products were low embodied carbon with high recycled content. All products can be taken back to the supplier at the end of life for recycling or uplifted for re-use elsewhere.
It was a revolutionary project in every sense of the word, and a worthy winner of this prestigious award!
The second of our awards was in the ‘Flooring in Residential Developments’ category for our project at Broadway, Westminster, on behalf of Multiplex.
The project consisted of six buildings – ranging between 13 and 19 storeys tall – surrounded by extensive public realm works. It sits on a 1.72-acre triangular site between Broadway, Dacre Street and Victoria Street and contains 268 luxury apartments designed by architects Squire and Partners.
During the design, phase we worked closely with our partner CMS Danskin to look at the environmental heat output with the different floor coverings. Following several workshops we chose a chipboard sub-floor to give the best output for the end user. We followed a strict Quality Assurance process to guarantee the UFH was installed correctly and functioned prior to floor finishes being installed. The installations were sequenced floor by floor and our team needed to meticulously plan in delivery of materials, quality check the UFH and ensure all transitions happened seamlessly to a compressed programme of works.
All adhesives were low VOC and all timber products were FSC accredited. To reduce our carbon use on this project we worked closely with our supply chain partner Protec. As well as receiving our protection, produced from recycled material, we also worked with the contractor and Protec with their closed loop scheme. All our used protection was removed from site and recycled back into new protection for us. As a result we had an atmospheric carbon saving of 76.12 tonnes of CO2, which is the equivalent of 1554 trees!
An amazing project which we will always look back at with fondness, capped off with this huge award!
Cheers to the Loughton Contracts Summer Party!
This time last week saw the Loughton Contract’s team set sail down the River Thames for our Summer Boat Party!
We were able to take in the sites and also point out many of our completed projects as we viewed London from the water. Food, drink, music and plenty of fun was had by all!
Thanks to everyone who attended the event, it was great to see all departments across the business come together and celebrate what has been a challenging but successful first half of 2023!
As an employee owned business we promote a “One Team” approach across all divisions, with every member of the business now fully focussed on smashing the second half of the year!
The Queen (Of Flooring) Retires!
After 38 years of dedication and passion to the flooring industry, Beverley McFarlane, our very own ‘Queen of Carpet’ has hung up her hard hat and said farewell to Loughton. Her story is one of unwavering commitment, unparalleled expertise, and a lasting impact on those that have had the pleasure of working with her.
Bev’s long-term relationships helped us win such prestigious projects as Battersea Power Station (all three phases!), The Broadway, 251 Elephant Road and many, many others. Loughton Contracts has enjoyed much success over the last ten years and Bev has played a huge part, making a positive difference in all aspects of the business, she will be missed by everyone, and we are sad to see her go, she’s one in a million and impossible to replace.
Over the years, Bev honed her skills, transforming from an eager apprentice into a seasoned professional. Through countless architect’s consultations and main contractor installations, she became known for her meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. Bev’s expertise in selecting the perfect flooring solutions earned her a deserved reputation as one of our industry’s finest.
What truly sets Bev apart is her genuine care for the people she worked with, be the clients, colleagues, suppliers, installers, labourers or site security guards. Every project she undertook was not just a job; it was an opportunity to enhance someone’s home or workspace. Her empathetic approach and ability to truly understand her clients’ needs made her a trusted advisor and friend. She takes immense pride in transforming spaces and bringing joy to those who walked on the floors she provided.
