Specialist Restorers – Celebrating 25 Years

Today we celebrate our BDMA Specialist Restorer Accreditation.

We hear from John Thompson, BDMA Honorary Fellow, BDMA Snr Tech and the BDMA’s current longest-standing Specialist Restorer.

“When the BDMA developed the Specialist Restorer Accreditation, the effort was led by Ken McKenzie of Harwell Restoration, a pioneer in vacuum sublimation (also known as freeze-drying). The small team focused on defining the accreditation’s specific requirements and determining how individuals could apply to become a BDMA Specialist Restorer—a process that remains relevant today in this evolving industry. Leadership of the group has since passed to Ken’s daughter, Kathryn Rodgers, of Harwell Restoration.

Twenty-five years ago, document restoration was in its early stages and considered an “add-on” to core services like decontamination and drying, much like textile and floorcovering restoration. This ethos persists today, with such skills often regarded as specialised or peripheral to the main restoration industry functions. These niche services—whether it’s a technician dedicated to restoring water-damaged vehicles or a supplier skilled in repairing damaged ceramics—are crucial in delivering exceptional customer service and upholding the principle of restoration over replacement.

If you or someone within your company specialises in these critical yet infrequent tasks, details on how to apply for accreditation are available on the BDMA website.”

Find out more about the specialist restorer accreditation here