Trade Business Awards 2025: Small Business Talent Recognised at National Awards Co-Hosted by Ant Middleton and Joseph Valente
Peterborough, UK – Over 250 of the UK’s top-performing trades and construction entrepreneurs gathered in Peterborough on Saturday 25th October for the Trade Business Awards 2025 – a red-carpet evening celebrating entrepreneurship, resilience and business growth in one of the country’s most vital sectors.
Held at the Holiday Inn Peterborough West, the black-tie event was co-hosted by Joseph Valente, CEO of Trade Mastermind and winner of BBC’s The Apprentice, alongside Ant Middleton, best known as the former Chief Instructor on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The awards spotlighted tradespeople who have successfully transitioned from the tools to the boardroom: turning small businesses into seven-figure enterprises, creating jobs, and driving economic growth across the UK.
“This isn’t just about plumbing or plastering. It’s about building real businesses,” said Joseph Valente.
“The Trade Business Awards are about recognising the new generation of trade entrepreneurs who are scaling companies, leading teams, and changing what’s possible in our industry.”
The event also featured a powerful keynote address from Ant Middleton, who spoke about the mindset required to overcome adversity and take bold action in business and life.
Awards That Celebrate Business Leadership in the Trades
With categories including Startup of the Year, Women in Construction, Apprentice Development of the Year, and Social Impact, the awards shine a light on stories that are often overlooked: from sole traders turning into employers, to family-run firms that are now national operations.
Winners came from across the UK, including some local Cambridgeshire and East Anglia companies that have doubled or tripled their revenues through strategic business mentoring and support.
Supporting Industry and Community
The event was hosted by Trade Mastermind, a Peterborough-based business training company founded by Valente after exiting his own multi-million-pound boiler installation business. Since launching in 2020, Trade Mastermind has supported over 3,000 trade businesses across the UK.
A portion of proceeds from the night were donated to Band of Builders, a construction industry charity that helps tradespeople and their families during times of crisis.
“The trades sector powers the UK economy and Peterborough sits at the heart of that,” said Valente.
“We’re proud to have brought a national platform to our city and shown that world-class business growth is happening right here.”
What’s Next: 2026 Awards Announced
Due to overwhelming demand, the waitlist for the 2026 Trade Business Awards is now open. Businesses, partners and press are invited to register early:
www.tradebusinessawards.co.uk/2026waitlist
| Awards categories | Winner | |
| Start up of the year | Runners Up | Stuart Middleton – SM home Improvements & Maintenance LTD |
| Start up of the year | Winner | William Jenks – Actismart LTD |
| Fastest Growing Trade Business | Runners Up | Leon Rygol – Rygol Electrical Services LTD |
| Fastest Growing Trade Business | Winner | Jensen Hadley – Jensens Heating & Plumbing Ltd |
| Customer Service Excellence | Runners Up | David Nemeth – DNA Power Solutions Limited |
| Customer Service Excellence | Winner | Callum Macdonald – Fast Lane Road Markings (North East) LTD |
| Apprenticeship & Training Champion | Runners Up | Daniel Melvin – DSM Plumbing & Heating |
| Apprenticeship & Training Champion | Winner | James Vanden – Hive Globe Solutions LTD Trading Hivasy |
| Substainability & Green Initiative | Runners Up | Sam Sharkey – Buildwales Limited |
| Substainability & Green Initiative | Winner | Freddie Brown – Taurus Incorporated Limited |
| Employer Of The Year | Runners Up | Liam Burch – Future Home Comforts Limited |
| Employer Of The Year | Winner | Mick Norris – M & R Plumbing & Heating LTD |
| Project Of The Year | Runners Up | Antonio Boffo – Onabox LTD |
| Project Of The Year | Winner | Joe Collier – Collier Plant LTD |
| Innovation Award | Runners Up | Mark Street -Bluefix Energy Solutions LTD |
| Innovation Award | Winner | Gregor Stuart – Stuart Temperature Solutions LTD |
| Community Impact Award | Runners Up | Shaun and Harriet Cooper – SLC Solutions LTD |
| Community Impact Award | Winner | Nick O’Hern – Precision Group Services Limited |
| Women In Construction Excellence | Runners Up | Lauren Newell – SMD Heating & Maintenance LTD |
| Women In Construction Excellence | Winner | Rosie-Jayne Quayle – DMR Plumbing & Heating Limited |
| Property Investor Of The Year | Winner | Simon Mathias – Whitford Properties LTD |
| Property Entrepreneur Of The Year | Winner | MS Property Lets – Sam Biros & Mario Condurache |
| Heating & Plumbing Business Of The Year | 0-500k Runner Up | Jason Linney – JSB Boilers LTD Trading as Home Heaters |
| Heating & Plumbing Business Of The Year | 0-500k Winner | Sam and Kim Bircham – KAS Energy Plumbing & Heating LTD |
| Heating & Plumbing Business Of The Year | 500k – 1m Runner Up | Anthony Linsey – Antlin Plumbing and Heating LTD |
| Heating & Plumbing Business Of The Year | 500k – 1m Winner | Samson Shaw – Essential Plumbing |
| Heating & Plumbing Business Of The Year | 1M plus Runner Up | Kev Jones – KJ Group Plumbing & Heating LTD |
| Heating & Plumbing Business Of The Year | 1M Plus Winner | Ashley Ferguson – AF Bathroom & Heating LTD |
| Electrical & Renewables Of The Year | 500k – 1mWinner | Mike Mills – Dragon Security & Electrical LTD |
| Electrical & Renewables Of The Year | 1M Plus Winner | Andrew Moore – Absolute Electrical Lincoln Limited |
| Electrical & Renewables Of The Year | 3M plus Winner | Chris Sadler – Kimbletech Ltd |
| Construction Business Of the Year | 0-500k Runner Up | Paul Cranstone – Gateway Gardens LTD |
| Construction Business Of the Year | 0-500k Winner | Douglas Runham – Adams and Eden Restoration |
| Construction Business Of the Year | 500k – 1m Runner Up | Daniel James Bathrooms LTD |
| Construction Business Of the Year | 500k – 1m Highly Commended | Miles Davies – T.M.S.Mechincal Services Limited |
| Construction Business Of the Year | 500k – 1m Winner | James Curson – Truestone Construction LTD |
| Construction Business Of the Year | 1M Plus Winner | James Pitsillides – Designer Living Group LTD |
| Best Staircase Of the Year | Winner | Lee Brayshaw – BB Exclusive Fabrications Ltd |
