The black‑tie ceremony, held at Ardoe House, brought together industry professionals to celebrate excellence, innovation and the future of the sector.

The awards are open to all businesses within the construction industry, and more than 30 businesses and individuals were shortlisted across 14 categories, from ‘Apprentice of the Year’ to ‘Construction Project of the Year’. This year saw the launch of new awards for ‘Community Engagement’ and ‘Construction Consultancy of the Year’, to allow even more opportunity to showcase the brilliant initiatives and outstanding work taking place in the region.

The award for Outstanding Contribution went to Ralph Skene, a true industry stalwart whose legacy includes decades of leadership across business, training, and national boards. Guests were told how his work has advanced standards, opened doors for future generations, and left a lasting mark on the construction community in Scotland.

Ralph Skene said: “It’s a real honour to be recognised in this way. I’ve been fortunate to spend my life working in an industry I care deeply about, and to see so many talented people being celebrated this evening gives me great hope for the future of construction in the North of Scotland.”

The awards are well supported by the construction sector, with W M Donald coming on board as the main sponsor, and award sponsors including Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes, Malcolm Allan Housebuilders, and Safety Scotland.

Mike Wilson, managing director at Mearns & Gill, organisers of the event, said: “This year’s finalists showcase outstanding talent, fresh innovation, and inspiring projects across the board. With winners at every stage of their career, and countless examples of individuals and teams going the extra mile, the entries for 2025 highlight the strength, depth, and resilience of the construction sector in the North of Scotland.

“We’re incredibly proud to host an event that not only recognises this excellence but also brings the industry together for a night of collaboration and celebration. Thank you to everyone who entered and supported the Trades Awards this year, we hope they inspire others to do the same next year.”

Elaine Donald, director, W M Donald, said: “We’re proud to support the Trades Awards as Main Sponsor for the first time, after many years as a supporting partner. This event is an important platform to recognise the incredible skill, hard work and dedication within the trades sector.

“It’s always inspiring to see new businesses step forward each year, which reflects the growing ambition and opportunity in our industry.

“We’d like to thank the organisers, judges, and all those behind the scenes for making this celebration possible, and we encourage more businesses to get involved to allow us to keep celebrating our thriving industry for years to come.”

Guests were treated to an evening of entertainment from talented local singers Sola and Ellen, before dancing the night away to DJ HomeAlone. The event was also raising money for local charity Somebody Cares, and guests donated over £3,000 that will go towards their newly launched Christmas campaign.

The Trades Awards 2025 winners are:

Sustainability in Construction, sponsored by CHAP

Diversity Energy Solutions

Health, Safety & Wellbeing, sponsored by Safety Scotland

Alan Little, Kirkwood Timber Frame

Community Engagement, sponsored by STV

KR Group (Scotland)

Outstanding Customer Service, sponsored by Barratt Homes & David Wilson Homes

Keith Builders Merchants

Construction Consultancy of the Year, sponsored by Mearns & Gill

Joe Boyle Ltd

Home or Building Improvement, sponsored by JKR Contractors

V G Willox Ltd, Macduff Pavilion

Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by CITB

Murdo Reid, Malcolm Allan Housebuilders & Daniel Knowles, W M Donald

Tradesperson of the Year, sponsored by Malcolm Allan Housebuilders

Dominic Clutterbuck, Bancon Homes

Rising Star, sponsored by Joe Boyle Ltd

Scott Thomson, Hazlewood Gardening

Site Manager of the Year, sponsored by Malcolm Allan Housebuilders

Russell Robertson. CHAP

Judges Choice

Aimee McKechnie, AtkinsRealis

Best Small Trades Business, sponsored by NFU Mutual Aberdeen City and Shire

Cerretti Electrical

Construction Project of the Year, sponsored by KR Group

CHAP, Operations & Maintenance Base in Buckie

Outstanding Contribution, sponsored by W M Donald

Ralph Skene