15 October 2025, House of Lords – The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) celebrated its 50th anniversary with its largest Parliamentary Reception to date. Over 160 guests joined us in the House of Lords for this special event, including representatives from government, industry, regulation, advocacy, and frontline delivery. It was more than a commemoration of five decades of progress – it was an occasion to reflect on achievements and renew a shared commitment to improving the nation’s homes. Marking NHIC’s half-century, the reception brought together leaders and members from across the sector in a collaborative forum to honour excellence and look ahead to the future of UK home improvement. The atmosphere was warm and collegial, filled with conversations that bridged policy and practice, echoing NHIC’s mission to “join the dots” between government, industry, and the lived experience of residents.
Honouring Excellence: The 2025 Stunell Awards
A highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of the 2025 Stunell Awards, which recognise outstanding contributions to positive, lasting change in home improvement. This year’s awards – named after Lord Andrew Stunell OBE – honoured one individual and one organisation for their leadership and impact:
- Faisal Hussain, Chief Executive of HIES, HICS & DGCOS – Award for Individual Achievement, for championing mental health and wellbeing in the home improvement sector. Under Faisal’s leadership, installer mental health has become a forefront issue, with new support programs and open conversations helping reduce stigma and build a more resilient workforce.
- Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) – Award for Organisational Achievement, for transforming apprenticeships and skills development across the industry. The BMF’s initiatives (such as its Apprenticeship Pledge, with over 15,000 commitments signed) have revitalised training opportunities, making apprenticeships a mainstream pathway and strengthening the skills pipeline in the RMI supply chain.
NHIC Chair Jon Vanstone commended the winners as embodying the innovation, collaboration and dedication that the Stunell Award stands for. And in presenting the awards, NHIC Chief Executive Anna Scothern reflected on their significance, saying:
“The Stunell Award celebrates the spirit of collaboration and commitment that defines our sector. In our 50th year, it’s inspiring to see leaders like Faisal Hussain and the Builders Merchants Federation setting such powerful examples of purpose in action. Their work shows how much can be achieved when we care for people as much as we innovate for progress.”
This heartfelt message resonated strongly in the room, underscoring that caring for people – from customers to the workforce – is as vital to progress as technical innovation. In the context of NHIC’s 50-year journey, the 2025 Stunell Award winners personify the Council’s enduring mission to turn policy ideals into practical action for safer, healthier, and higher-quality homes.
“Strengthening Systems, Skills and Safeguards” – Panel Highlights
Another engaging portion of the event was a panel discussion titled “Strengthening Systems, Skills and Safeguards.” Moderated by Anna Scothern, this discussion brought together voices from different corners of the home improvement ecosystem to explore how to build a “safe, skilled, and sustainable” sector. The panel featured:
- Jon Vanstone (Chair of Industry Competence Committee – ICC) a leading voice on installer competence and compliance, sharing insights from the Protect What Matters report on bolstering consumer financial protection.
- Mussa Awaleh (Senior Policy Advisor, HSE) – offering a regulator’s perspective on workforce health, site safety, and the balance of oversight vs. practical delivery.
- Lucy Dixon (Head of Engagement, InstallerFUTURES, Nineteen Group) – championing the installer’s voice and how to inspire the next generation of tradespeople, based on her work engaging young talent.
- Deborah Stephenson (Business Development Manager, CORGI Services) – bringing a safeguarding and quality lens, focusing on consumer protection and service excellence in areas like retrofit.
Together, the panellists and audience delved into the debate, which will be featured by Installer and Elemental Magazines, generated strong engagement both in the room and online. They discussed how no single part of the system can drive change alone, highlighting the need for better coordination across policy, industry, and the trades. Key themes that emerged from the conversation included:
- Collaboration: Strengthening cross-sector partnerships and “building bridges” between stakeholders to raise standards collectively.
- Installer Wellbeing: Prioritising the mental health, safety, and job satisfaction of installers – recognising them as skilled professionals who are the heartbeat of the sector.
- Skills Development: Investing in training and apprenticeships to address the skills gap and empower the next generation of talent (echoing the success of initiatives like the BMF’s apprenticeship programs).
- Consumer Protection: Ensuring robust safeguards and trust mechanisms for homeowners, from financial protection schemes to quality assurances, so that innovation in areas like retrofitting never compromises the end-user.
- NHIC’s “3Rs” Framework – Reduce, Respect, Rebuild: Anna Scothern introduced this new strategic framework as a roadmap for the future, focused on reducing poor practices through competence and compliance, respecting both the workforce and consumers, and rebuilding trust through better safeguards and data-driven oversight. The 3Rs encapsulate a values-led call to action for the coming years, aligning closely with the day’s discussions on improving standards and culture in the industry.
Throughout the panel, there was a strong sense of unity and purpose. Attendees heard how strengthening systems, skills, and safeguards is not optional but essential for a trusted, resilient future – a point emphasised by Anna Scothern in her closing remarks. The conversation reinforced that by valuing installers as professionals, collaborating across sectors, and keeping people at the heart of solutions, the home improvement sector can achieve sustainable, long-term progress.
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter for NHIC
Fittingly, the celebration at Westminster also looked to the road ahead for the NHIC. In a forward-looking announcement at the reception, Anna Scothern revealed that The Rt Hon Lord Jim Knight and The Rt Hon Lord Don Foster will take up roles as NHIC’s new Co-Presidents. This marks the first time the Council has appointed joint Presidents, a move that underscores a commitment to unity and cross-party collaboration at the highest level. Lord Knight (Labour) and Lord Foster (Liberal Democrat) are both highly respected Parliamentarians from different political backgrounds, symbolising a non-partisan, “all hands-on deck” approach to improving the nation’s homes. Their combined expertise – spanning education and skills, housing and energy efficiency, and consumer rights – will be invaluable in guiding the NHIC’s work on issues like closing the construction skills gap, advancing green home retrofits, and bolstering consumer confidence in home improvement.
As NHIC Chair Jon Vanstone noted, “Their appointment signals a renewed commitment to partnership, inclusivity and shared purpose across industry and government.” With Lord Knight and Lord Foster at the helm, the NHIC is entering a fresh chapter of leadership with a unified vision. This development, coming in the NHIC’s 50th year, reinforces the optimistic tone of the event – celebrating a proud history while actively laying foundations for the future.
Reflections: The NHIC’s 50th Anniversary Parliamentary Reception was not an ending, but a new beginning reinforcing NHIC’s role as the bridge between policy and practice for the decade ahead.
The event succeeded in both honouring how far the council and industry have come and inspiring everyone present toward the work still to be done. From the enthusiastic networking and insightful panel debate to the Stunell Award winners who exemplify purpose-driven leadership, the day was a testament to the power of collaboration and commitment in this sector. With a renewed strategic focus (the 3Rs framework) and new Co-Presidents championing its mission, the NHIC moves forward from this milestone with revitalised energy and unity – determined to ensure that everyone in the UK can live in a safe, healthy, and sustainable home for the next 50 years and beyond.
The NHIC’s 50th Anniversary Parliamentary Reception was not an ending, but a new beginning — reinforcing NHIC’s role as the bridge between policy and practice for the decade ahead.