The annual awards ceremony was launched 10 years ago to celebrate outstanding trades people and construction businesses in the North of Scotland. There are fourteen award categories, open to businesses of all sizes.

The event is taking place on Friday 28th October and is organised by local creative marketing agency Mearns & Gill. The Trades Awards celebrate individuals, teams, and companies across all disciplines within construction, helping to highlight the incredible work that takes place within the North of Scotland. The 2022 event welcomes back main sponsor Stewart Milne Group for the eighth consecutive year and supporting sponsor W M Donald for the sixth year.

The awards ceremony has taken place online for the past two years due to Covid-19, but due to the incredible support the event receives, continued to bring together around 400 virtual guests to each digital event. This year the black-tie event will be taking place in person at Ardoe House Hotel, with over 400 guests from across the construction industry expected to attend.

This year’s Trades Awards finalists in the following categories are:

Sustainability in Construction, sponsored by Cala Homes

• GPH Builders Merchants
• W M Donald

Excellence in Health & Safety, sponsored by Safety Scotland

• CHAP Group
• Nicol of Skene
• W M Donald

Best New Business, sponsored by W M Donald

• Affordable Windows and Doors
• Morrice Plant Hire

Outstanding Customer Service, sponsored by Barratt Homes

• Frasers of Ellon
• Goldstar Cleaning Services
• Nicol of Skene Ltd
• PMC Property Management & Lettings
• Safety Scotland Ltd

Home/Building Improvement, sponsored by CITB

• Annie Kenyon Developments
• Camphill Architecture & Development
• eb-architect Ltd

Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by James Gibb

• Alex Walker, W M Donald
• Marc O’Donnell, W M Donald
• Ryan Lovie, Diversity Energy Solutions

Tradesperson of the Year, sponsored by Malcolm Allan Housebuilders

• George Pirie, Barratt Homes
• Martin Sangster, Allsorts Joinery
• Ryan Morrison, Ardinn Homes

Rising Star, sponsored by Glulam Solutions

• Owen Harper, Scotia Homes
• Ross Imray, Annie Kenyon Developments
• Stephen Buchan, CHAP Group

Site Manager of the Year, sponsored by PMC Property Management & Lettings

• Barry Kane, Stewart Milne Homes
• Fraser Stephen, Scotia Homes Ltd
• Rob Swanson, Cala Homes (North) Ltd

Above and Beyond, sponsored by Scotia Homes

• Darren Ross, Scotia Homes
• Mike Brodziak, W M Donald
• Ryan Morrison / Darren Findlay, ‘Let’s

Construction Project of the Year, sponsored by Bancon Homes

• Annie Kenyon Developments
• Camphill Architecture & Development
• Halliday Fraser Munro

Best Small Trades Business, sponsored by Space Solutions

• Diversity Energy Solutions
• Frasers of Ellon
• North East Electrical Services

Best Large Trade Business, sponsored by STV

• W M Donald
• Goldstar Cleaning Services

There will also be a special award for ‘Outstanding Contribution’, with the winner being suggested by the judging panel and revealed on the night.

Neil Thomson, deputy managing director, Stewart Milne Homes Scotland, said: “We are extremely proud to be sponsoring the Trades Awards tenth anniversary celebrations. This annual event is important for shining a light on incredible people and businesses working within the North East construction industry, and the hugely impressive work that is being done in the region.

“Stewart Milne Group has been the main sponsor for 8 consecutive years, and in that time, I have had the pleasure of meeting so many inspiring, talented people. From the list of finalists, I can already see that this year will be no different, and I’m looking forward to finding out more about each of them, and enjoying, what in my mind, will be the biggest celebration of this event yet on its 10th anniversary this year.”

Elaine Donald, finance director of W M Donald, said: “We know firsthand how busy the construction industry is and we are extremely grateful to every person and business who found the time to enter this year. I have had the pleasure of seeing some of this year’s high-quality applications, and I am looking forward to meeting this year’s finalists in person. We know that this year’s ceremony will be another exciting evening, and our team are already looking forward to it!”

Finalists will now be invited to an interview where they will discuss their application in more detail with the judging panel. The judges will then make their final decisions, with winners being revealed on 28th October at Ardoe House.

This year’s award ceremony will be jointly hosted by Pauline Fraser, who returns for a fourth year, and STV presenter and journalist Norman MacLeod.

The Trades Awards has been supporting charities since its launch in 2012, raising over £25,000 so far, and this year money raised on the evening will go to MND Scotland, a charity that has special significance to the team at Mearns & Gill.